UAE-based carrier Etihad Airways announced Wednesday that it is now allowing passengers to pay their tickets on an instalment basis, so that they can go ahead with their travel plans even when their household finances are tight. The offer can be availed of by residents in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt who book their flights directly through the airline’s website. Etihad is said to be the first in the region to offer a fully automated online instalment scheme after partnering with online payment service provider PayFort. The new initiative is intended to help low-to-medium income individuals and families by spreading the cost of their air ticket over a period of, say, three months or even five years.<br/>