Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane International) has announced it has canceled plans to launch intercontinental flights between Perth International and Abu Dhabi International in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) later this year.

The 3x weekly service was to have begun on June 9 but, according to an airline press release, has now been scrubbed given a change in market conditions that have made the route no longer viable.

Virgin Australia said customers can continue to book travel on alliance partner Etihad Airways’ daily service between Perth and Abu Dhabi and all connecting services as usual.

The move follows Virgin's recent decision to terminate its Sydney Kingsford Smith-Abu Dhabi service ahead of the relaunch of flights from Melbourne Tullamarine to Los Angeles International in April and the start of service to Hong Kong International later in the year.