DUBAI: The UAE has signed an open skies deal with Albania, making the south-east European country the latest in a growing list of destinations accessible from the Gulf state The deal, agreed by the UAE's aviation authority, named Etihad, Emirates Airline and RAK Airways as national carriers, alongside low-cost airlines flyDubai and Air Arabia. The agreement marks the latest effort by UAE airlines to expand their operations in the lucrative European market. A deal signed by UAE and French aviation authorities last month gave flagship airlines Etihad, Emirates and Air Arabia the right to add a combined 22 weekly flights to the European country. Dubai-based Emirates is also understood to be lobbying for fresh landing rights at Berlin's new airport, which is set to open in 2012. The International Air Transport Association last week forecast that passenger traffic into the UAE will hit 82.3 million over the next three years, driven by a Middle East-wide rise in air travelers of 9.4 percent. Global air travelers will rise to 3.3 billion by 2014, up 32 percent on the 2.5 billion carried in 2009, fuelled by strong growth from China. The Middle East is expected be the fastest growing region, with the UAE, Kuwait and Jordan ranking among the 10 quickest growing countries for international traffic.
