Etihad Airways
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Etihad Airways | ||
|---|---|---|
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| IATA EY |
ICAO ETD |
Callsign ETIHAD |
| Founded | 2003 | |
| Hubs | Abu Dhabi International Airport | |
| Frequent flyer program | Etihad Guest | |
| Fleet size | 37 (+23 orders) | |
| Destinations | 44 | |
| Headquarters | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Key people | H.E. Dr. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saif Al Nahyan (Chairman), James Hogan (CEO) | |
| Website: http://www.etihadairways.com | ||
Etihad Airways (Arabic: الإتحاد, ʼal-ʻitiħād) is the flag carrier of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Etihad is based in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE.
'‘Etihad’' (Arabic for "united", "federation" or "union") is the Arabic abbreviation for الإمارات العربية المتحدة - United Arab Emirates. It operates services to the Middle East, Europe, Indian subcontinent, North America, Far East, Africa, and Oceania. Its main base is Abu Dhabi International Airport.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
Etihad Airways was established as the national airline of the United Arab Emirates in July 2003 by a royal 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 November 5, 2003, and on November 12, 2003, Etihad started commercial operations with the launch of services to Beirut. In the months that followed, almost one new route was added per month. In 2007 Etihad carried more than 4.6 million passengers, compared to 2.8 million in 2006.
In June 2004 the airline flew the first direct flight from the UAE to Geneva followed by Brussels and Toronto in October 2005. It also flew the first non-stop flight from Abu Dhabi to Johannesburg.
[edit] Cargo
Etihad Crystal Cargo is Etihad's cargo division, operating a fleet of three A300-600F cargo aircraft. It started operations in September 2004 and has since flown the first commercial cargo flight between Abu Dhabi International Airport and Frankfurt Airport.
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 Airport. Etihad’s new facility at Abu Dhabi Airport will be equipped to handle more than 500,000 tonnes annually. New aircraft, particularly the Airbus A330-200F and Boeing 777F, will play a role in cargo expansion. Etihad has reached an agreement with World Airways to provide additional uplift.
[edit] Destinations
Etihad Airways flies to 43 destinations worldwide.
[edit] Fleet
[edit] Passenger
The Etihad Airways fleet consists of 35 aircraft as of June 11, 2008:
| Aircraft | Total | Passengers | Routes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A319-100 | 2 |
Regional | ||
| Airbus A320-200 | 5 (5 orders) |
140 (20/120) | Regional | |
| Airbus A330-200 | 14 (2 orders) |
200 (10/26/164) 262 (22/240) |
Medium-long haul | |
| Airbus A330-300 | (5 orders) | Medium-long haul | ||
| Airbus A340-300 | 1 | 265 (10/30/225) | Medium-long haul | |
| Airbus A340-500 | 4 | 240 (12/28/200) | Ultra long haul | |
| Airbus A340-600 | 3 (4 orders) |
286 (12/30/244) | Long haul | |
| Airbus A380-800 | (4 orders) | Long haul | Entry into service: 2013 | |
| Boeing 777-300ER | 5 | 378 (28/350) | Long haul |
[edit] Etihad Crystal Cargo Fleet
| Aircraft | Total | Capacity | Routes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A300-600RF | 2 | 44 M/T / 97,000 lbs | Medium haul | Operated by Air Atlanta Icelandic |
| McDonnell Douglas MD11-F | 1 | Medium haul | Operated by World Airways | |
| Airbus A330-200F | (3 orders) | 69 M/T / 152,100 lbs | Medium haul | Entry into service: 2011 |
[edit] Cabin
Etihad has three travel classes, First class or Diamond Zone, business class (Pearl Zone) and economy class (Coral Zone). Pearl Zone and Coral Zone are available on all of Etihad's aircraft, whereas Diamond Zone is only fitted on select aircraft depending on the routes served by individual planes. Personal LCD screens are fitted as standard in all classes.
[edit] In-flight entertainment
For in-flight entertainment, Etihad uses an AVOD (audio-video on demand) system on its new long-range aircraft. Newer additions to the fleet, as well as some older planes, feature a Plug-And-Play system, which works on USB technology, that allow passengers to play their own audio and video media. Some aircraft have in-flight telephony.
[edit] Etihad Guest
Etihad Guest is the airline's frequent flyer program, launched August 30, 2006. It features a discount web shop for loyalty program members and a platform for merchants to log into to manage their products.
Etihad is not part of any airline alliance, but has a partnership agreement with Brussels Airlines.
[edit] 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 Spyker F1 team. In 2008 Etihad switched its sponsorship to the Ferrari F1 Team.
- On July 30, 2007 it was announced that Etihad Airways would become the main sponsor of Harlequins Rugby League Club (England). The sponsorship also includes renaming the East Stand at The Twickenham Stoop (the home of Harlequins) to the Etihad Stand. Etihad's logo was painted on the roof of the stand which is directly under the flight path to London Heathrow Airport.
- In September 2007 Etihad announced that they had signed a three-year contract to serve as sponsor and official airline of the Chelsea F.C..
- On December 18, 2007 Etihad announced that they would become the title sponsor for the 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to be held on Yas Island.
- On March 19, 2008 it was announced that Etihad Airways would become a main sponsor for the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship from 2008-10.
[edit] Company Data & Management Structure
Etihad's passenger numbers reached more than 3 million in 2006[2]. The airline employs 3200 people.
[edit] Board of directors of Etihad Airways
Etihad is governed by a board of directors under the chairmanship of HH Dr SH Ahmed Bin Saif Al Nahyan 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.
[edit] Management Team
The airline is led by James Hogan (formerly CEO of Gulf Air) who was appointed as Chief Executive Officer in October 2006.
[edit] Awards
- 2008: Best economy class and best cabin crew in the middle east (Skytrax)
- 2007: Best Economy Class Catering (Skytrax)
- 2006: World’s Leading New Airline (13th World Travel Awards)
- 2006: World’s Leading Flatbed Seat (13th World Travel Awards)
- 2005: World’s Leading New Airline (12th World Travel Awards)
- 2004: World’s Leading New Airline (11th World Travel Awards)
[edit] Controversy
- On April 27, 2007 two Australian businessmen gained international notoriety after behaving badly aboard an Etihad flight to Abu Dhabi.[3] The two mining executives were accused of being drunk, stripping naked and offering flight attendants money for sex. The pair were detained in an Abu Dhabi prison for six weeks, telling news reporters they were treated inhumanely and were forced to live off "fermented camel meat".[4] The men were eventually convicted of sexual harassment, given suspended jail sentences, and deported from the United Arab Emirates.[5] They were also fined 1,000 Dirhams for drinking alcohol aboard an Etihad flight without a liquor permit.[6] The Australians later vowed to sue Etihad Airways.[7] The men were later dropped from the board of directors of the mining company they represented.
- A number of cabin crew applicants have criticized the airline's human resource department[8] after false promises from the company to hire them.
[edit] Incidents and accidents
- On November 15, 2007 an Airbus A340-600, due to be delivered to Etihad, jumped its chocks during an engine test at Toulouse Blagnac Airport. The nose went up and over a concrete blast fence. At least five people were injured, there were no fatalities. The aircraft was written off.
[edit] References
- ^ "Directory: World Airlines", Flight International, 2007-04-03, p. 78.
- ^ "ITCA Dubai Market Information", ITCA Dubai, n/a. Retrieved on 2007-09-16.
- ^ Wainwright, Robert. "First-class fracas, but facts remain in a sky-high fog", Sydney Morning Herald, 2007-06-09. Retrieved on 2007-06-09.
- ^ Haynes, Rhys. "Aussie 'held in stifling cell, fed camel meat'", Herald Sun, 2007-05-29. Retrieved on 2007-06-06.
- ^ Carter, Paul. "Deported Aussies being flown home", news.com.au, 2007-06-05. Retrieved on 2007-06-06.
- ^ "Men detained in UAE consider legal action", The Age, 2007-06-06. Retrieved on 2007-06-08.
- ^ Wainwright, Robert. "Deported businessmen set to sue airline", Sydney Morning Herald, 2007-06-06. Retrieved on 2007-06-06.
- ^ Etihad - Wannabees & Recruitment III - Page 11 - PPRuNe Forums
[edit] External links
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