The Government is close to signing aviation agreements with China, Singapore and Thailand that will allow the operation of direct flights between the Far East and Ireland.

Speaking at the official opening of Gulf Air's Dublin office yesterday, Minister for Transport Martin Cullen welcomed the success demonstrated by the airline since it launched direct flights between Dublin and Bahrain last December. He also said more such links were needed.

In the 10 months that the thrice-weekly service has been operating, Gulf Air has carried more than 35,000 passengers. June and July were its busiest months, with more than 4,500 passengers filling about 95 per cent of its capacity.

James Harrison, managing director of Gulf Air Ireland, said bookings for November were encouraging, with about 70 per cent of premium capacity already reserved, and just under three-quarters of the economy seats.

The majority of the airline's passengers use the route to Bahrain as a way of connecting to destinations further afield such as Bangkok, Sydney and India, avoiding short-haul changes in London or Amsterdam.

"This is in keeping with what we as a Government want to achieve," said Mr Cullen.

"To attract the best of the best and to have as many high-quality air services as possible. It's providing a whole new opportunity for passengers out of Ireland."

Mr Cullen also reiterated the need for competition in the airline sector, citing in particular the need for Aer Lingus and Ryanair to remain independent entities.

"We have never believed that the Ryanair attempt to take over Aer Lingus was in the interests of competition and the customers of this country," he said, adding that more direct routes from Dublin to further afield destinations would help boost competition.