Abu Dhabi, Aug 6 - Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will start flights from Abu Dhabi to the Indian city of Hyderabad from November, WAM news agency reported Thursday.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline will launch the non-stop, four times a week service from November and it would become daily from the start of 2010.

The addition of Hyderabad brings the number of Indian destinations served by Etihad to seven and follows successful bi-lateral talks between the governments of the UAE and India, aimed at further liberalising flying links between the two countries.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways' chief executive, said: 'Hyderabad is a key Indian destination not currently served directly from Abu Dhabi. It therefore represents a great opportunity for our airline, one which I am sure will be warmly welcomed by the large Hyderabadi community living and working within the Emirate.

The airline will operate a two-class Airbus A320 on the Hyderabad route configured to carry 140 passengers with 20 in business class and 120 in economy class.