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Etihad Airways (Template:Lang-ar, ʼal-ʻitiħād) is the flag carrier of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Etihad means "snide council house" in Arabic, the name deriving from the Arabic for United Arab Emirates (الإمارات العربية المتحدة Al-'Imārāt al-`Arabiyyah al-Muttaḥidah). Established in 2003, Etihad commenced operation on November later that year.

The airline operates more than 1000 flights per week to 66 destinations in 44 countries, via a fleet of 57 aircraft. Its operation is heavily centered in Europe and Asia, as well as Oceania, Africa and North America. Its main base is Abu Dhabi International Airport, with its head office in Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi. In 2010, it carried 7.1 million passengers, compared with 340,000 in its first full year of operations in 2004. In addition to its core activity of passenger transportation, Etihad earns significant revenue from its cargo operation, Etihad Crystal Cargo.

History

Etihad Airways was established as the flag carrier of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in July 2003 by Royal (Amiri) Decree issued by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It started with an initial paid-up capital of AED500 million. Services were launched with a ceremonial flight to Al Ain on 5 November 2003. On 12 November 2003, Etihad commenced commercial operations with the launch of services to Beirut, and has gone on to become the fastest growing airline in the history of commercial aviation.

In June 2004, the airline made an US$8-billion aircraft order for five Boeing 777-300ERs and 24 Airbus aircraft, including four A380-800s. The airline announced the largest aircraft order in commercial aviation history at the Farnborough International Air show in 2008, for up to 205 aircraft – 100 firm orders, 55 options and 50 purchase rights.

As of January 2011, the airline operates services to 66 destinations around the world from its home base in Abu Dhabi.

In 2010 Etihad carried more than 7 million passengers, up from 4.6 million in 2007.

In 2010, seat load-factor was 74 per cent.

Company affairs and identity

In 2010, Etihad handled 260,000 tonnes of cargo.

Etihad has 8,000 members of staff which includes around 3,000 cabin crew and 900 pilots.

Head office

Etihad has its head office in Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, near Abu Dhabi International Airport. Etihad spent 183.6 million UAE dirhams ($50 million USD) in 2007 to arrange to have its new head office and training center built. The new head office was scheduled to be finished by the end of 2007.

Structure

Board of directors

Etihad is governed by a board of directors chaired by HH Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, HH Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nahyan being the vice chairman and operates in terms of its founding legislation and the Article of Association of the Company. The Board consists of seven independent non-executive members and has two sub-committees, being an Executive Committee and an Audit Committee, each with its own charter and chairman.

Other member of the BoD included: Mohammed Mubarak Fadel Al Mazrouei, Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Mubarak Hamad Al Muhairi, Hamad Abdullah Al Shamsi and Khalifa Sultan Al Suwaidi

Management team

The airline is led by James Hogan (formerly CEO of Gulf Air) who was appointed as Chief Executive Officer in October 2006.

Corporate sponsorship

• Etihad is a sponsor of UAE sports clubs, including the Abu Dhabi Rugby Union Football Club, the Abu Dhabi International Sailing School and the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC), as well as the Al-Jazira Club.
• For the 2007 season, Etihad was one of the title sponsors for the Etihad Aldar Spyker F1 Team. Because the team was purchased by the chairman of another airline (Vijay Mallya, of Kingfisher Airlines), Etihad switched to Scuderia Ferrari from 2008 onwards.
• On July 30, 2007 it was announced that Etihad Airways would become the main sponsor of Harlequins rugby club and Harlequins Rugby League club (UK). The sponsorship also includes renaming the East Stand at the Twickenham Stoop (the home of Harlequins) to the Etihad Stand. Etihad's logo is painted on the roof of the stand which is under the flight path to London Heathrow Airport.
• On 18 December 2007 Etihad announced that they would become the title sponsor for the 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to be held on Yas Island.
• On 19 March 2008 it was announced that Etihad Airways would become a main sponsor for the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship from 2008–10.
• In October 2008, it was announced that Etihad would take over sponsorship of the Docklands Stadium in Melbourne (previously known as the Telstra Dome). The name change to Etihad Stadium took effect on March 1, 2009.
• In May 2009, it was also announced that Etihad would be the official sponsor of Manchester City.
• Etihad also holds another aircraft line maintenance facility at Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore (Pakistan), its second largest facility outside the UAE.

Financial performance

Etihad has never posted a profit since it began operations in 2004. Etihad Airways won’t break even in 2010 after its yields were hit by the global economic crisis and swine flu. The company lost more than $30m in revenue in April 2010 when a cloud of ash from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano forced the cancellation of flights to and from Europe.

In the financial year 2008 Etihad carried 6 million passengers and 330,000 tonnes of cargo. International Air Transport Association (IATA) statistics indicate that in 2007 Etihad ranked among the top-ten airlines in the world in terms of growth since its inception in 2003.

Etihad Airways took the top award – World's Leading Airline – at the World Travel Awards (WTA) in 2009.

In June 2010, Etihad's chief executive predicted that the airline would break even in 2011.

Cargo

Etihad Crystal Cargo is Etihad's cargo division, operating two A330-200F, two A300-600F and two MD-11F cargo aircraft . It started operations in September 2004.

Etihad Crystal Cargo is expected to double its turnover of AED361.50 million (US$98.5 million) in 2005 to over AED734 million (US$200 million) in 2006. Crystal handled 115,000 tonnes of cargo in 2005, about 50 per cent of the cargo uplifted from Abu Dhabi International Airport. Etihad’s new facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport will be equipped to handle more than 500,000 tonnes annually. New aircraft, particularly the Airbus A330-200F will play a role in cargo expansion. Etihad has reached an agreement with World Airways to provide additional uplift.

Destinations

As of January 2011 Etihad serves 66 destinations and Etihad Crystal Cargo serves 14 destinations (including 6 destinations served by Etihad Airways also) in 42 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania from its hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Codeshare agreements

Etihad Airways has codeshare agreements with the following airlines (as of July 2011), ST = Sky Team, SA = Star Alliance, OW = Oneworld:

Etihad also codeshare with French Railways SNCF.

Fleet

The Etihad Airways fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of 5 July 2011):

Etihad Crystal Cargo is the launch customer of the Airbus A330-200F, and received the first aircraft on 20 July 2010 during the Farnborough Airshow.

Services

Cabin

Diamond Zone

First class is known as the Diamond Zone. The Diamond First Class Suites have seats that rotate 180 degrees and recline into 6'8" flat beds. Each Diamond Suite has a privacy shell that ensures maximum privacy and direct access to the aisles; within this space there are a coatroom, a mini-bar, a fold-and-swivel meal table, an integrated personal mirror, a magazine rack, a reading light and a desk lamp. Each Diamond seat has pneumatic lumbar support, a six-way movement headrest and a built-in massage facility. Each Diamond Suite has a 23" personal LCD. The Diamond First Class Zone will be changed throughout the long-haul fleet with new suites and changed toilets.

Pearl Zone

Business class is known as the Pearl Zone. The Pearl Business Class seats recline to 180 degrees into a fully flat 6'1" business bed. It has an 88" pitch and direct access to the aisle for plenty space and privacy. Each self-contained seat is equipped with individual lighting and a reading light. The Pearl Business seats each has a 15" personal LCD screen. Aircraft also have in-flight telephone. There is also a built-in massage facility.The Pearl Business Class will have adjustments to its seats (wider armrests, bigger TV screens, closing up the TV to the seat, and bigger dining tables).

Coral Zone

Economy class is known as the Coral Zone. The Coral Economy Class seats feature lumbar support, headrests and foot rests and up to 33 inch seat pitch. Each Coral Economy seat has a 10.7" personal LCD screen. The Coral Zone also includes in-flight telephone.

In-flight entertainment

Etihad uses the Thales TopSeries i5000 in-flight entertainment system with AVOD (audio-video on demand) system on its new long-range aircraft and on some of its new A320-200 aircraft. Etihad brand this system as the 'E-box'. International destination fleets have a Plug-And-Play system which works on USB technology, that allow passengers to play their own audio, video and picture media. The Airbus A330-200, A340-500, A340-600 and Boeing 777-300ER all have in-flight telephone facility.

Loyalty programme

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Etihad Guest is the airline's frequent flyer program, launched on 30 August 2006. It offers a discount web shop for loyalty program members.

Etihad is not part of any airline alliance, but has a partnership agreement with:

Etihad has released information on a new partnership deal with Virgin Australia and V Australia. All Virgin services will be available to Etihad customers, opening up 44 destinations in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, and to Asia and Los Angeles. The airlines will share their frequent flyer benefits.

Awards

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Etihad Airways has received over 30 awards since its inauguration in 2003. It has a 4-star rating by Skytrax. Etihad also has a 5-star rating for its First and Business Classes. It has won the World Travel Awards (WTA) designation for having the best Business Class in the world in 2009.

In November, 2009 Etihad Airways won the "World's Leading Airline" award at the World Travel Awards in London.

In 2010, Etihad Airways won the 'World's Best First Class' award by Skytrax at Hamburg. Etihad also received awards for 'Best First Class catering' and 'Best First Class Seat' as well. The same year Etihad Airways was awarded the title of “World’s Leading Airline” for a second consecutive year at the World Travel Awards (WTA) in London. Etihad’s success in London caps a great year for the airline as it had won six titles at the WTA ceremony for the Middle East in May, including the coveted title as the region’s Leading Airline.

Incidents and accidents

Etihad Airways has had no fatal accidents and no major accidents in revenue service.

• On 15 November 2007 an Airbus A340-600 due to be delivered to Etihad ran into a concrete blast fence during an engine test at the Airbus factory at Toulouse Blagnac International Airport, France. This was due to the crew not following proper test procedures, raising all four engines to maximum thrust while the wheels were unchocked. The attempt to steer away from the wall resulted in decreased braking power. Five people were injured and the aircraft was written off.

See also

• Gulf Air
• Emirates (airline)
• Qatar Airways

References

1. "Airline Membership". IATA. Retrieved 2011-06-12.
2. ^ "Etihad Airways In Brief" (PDF). Etihad Airways. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
3. "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 2007-04-03. p. 78.
4. "Our offices." Etihad Airways. Retrieved on 11 February 2010.
5. "Etihad Airways plans to enter hospitality sector." Tehran Times. Monday 17 August 2009. Retrieved on 11 February 2010.
6. "Airline to Shift to New Headquarters by 2008." Gulf News at Zawya. 17 April 2007. Retrieved on 11 February 2010.
7. http://www.etihadairways.com/sites/Etihad/Etihad%20Images/Resources/Business-review-2010-en.pdf
8. "Etihad Airways to sponsor Manchester City". Manchester City F.C. 2009-05-24. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
9. Etihad Airways opens dedicated aircraft line maintenance facility in Lahore Pakistan
10. Etihad unlikely to break even, CEO admits
11. "Etihad on course to break even next year: Hogan". flightglobal. 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-26.
12. Etihad Airways Route Map
13. "Our partner airlines". Etihad Airways. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
14. Our Fleet
15. "Corporate Fact and figures" (PDF). Etihad Airways. Retrieved 2011-06-12.
16. "Fleet Information – Crystal Cargo". Etihad Airways. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
17. "A well-timed delivery of the first A330-200F freighter" (Press release). Airbus. Retrieved 2011-06-12.
18. ^ "Diamond First Class flights". Etihad Airways. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
19. "Pearl Business Class Flights". Etihad Airways. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
20. "Coral Economy Class Flights". Etihad Airways. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
21. "Violation of test procedures led to Toulouse A340-600 crash". Flight Global. Retrieved 2008-12-12.
22. "Accident survenu le 15 novembre 2007 sur l'aérodrome de Toulouse Blagnac à l'Airbus A340-600 numéro de série 856" (PDF) (in French). Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses pour la sécurité de l’aviation civile. Retrieved 2008-12-12.

External links

• Etihad Airways official website

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• Etihad Airways
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