royal decree in July 2003 and based in Abu Dhabi, Etihad commenced operations in November

2003. The name derives from the Arabic word for "union".

The airline operates more than 1,000 flights per week to 96 passenger and cargo destinations

in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas, with a fleet of

85 Airbus and Boeing aircraft. In 2012, Etihad carried 10.3 million passengers, a 23% increase

from the previous year, delivering revenues of US$ 4.8 billion and net profits of US$

42 million. Etihad Airways is the fourth largest airline in the Middle East and it is the second

largest airline in the United Arab Emirates, after the Dubai-based airline Emirates.

In addition to its core activity of passenger transportation, Etihad also operates Etihad

Holidays and Etihad Cargo. The airline is based at Abu Dhabi International Airport and

its head office is in Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi.

Etihad reported its first full-year net profit in 2011, of US$14 million, in line with the

strategic plan announced by CEO James Hogan in 2006.

In December 2011, Etihad announced it had taken a 29.21% stake in Air Berlin, Europe's

sixth largest airline, and James Hogan was appointed Vice Chairman. It followed this

up with minority stakes in other airlines—Air Seychelles, Aer Lingus, Virgin Australia.

Also, Etihad is close to acquiring 24% stake in Indian carrier Jet Airways. On August 1,

2013, the President of the company, James Hogan, signed a deal with Aleksandar Vučić,

First Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia, in Belgrade, giving Etihad a 49% stake in the

Serbian national carrier Jat Airways/Air Serbia. The Serbian Government retained 51% of the

shares. Among numerous terms of the deal, a complete re-branding of Jat Airways was

planned, including a name change. The new company is named Air Serbia. At the 2013 Dubai

Airshow, Etihad announced that it was acquiring a 33.3% stake in the Swiss carrier Darwin

Airline. Darwin was rebranded as Etihad Regional from March 2014. In June 2014, after long

negotiations and subject to approval Etihad agreed to take a 49% stake in the troubled

Italian flag carrier Alitalia for an undisclosed sum.

History Etihad Airways was established as the flag

carrier of the United Arab Emirates in July 2003 by 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 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.

Prior to the establishment of Etihad, Gulf Air was the airline which was based at Abu

Dhabi Airport and was also co-owned by Bahrain. 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.

Their first A380 is scheduled to be delivered in December 2014.

The airline announced what was the largest aircraft order in commercial aviation history

at the Farnborough Airshow in 2008, for up to 205 aircraft—100 firm orders, 55 options

and 50 purchase rights. As of February 2013, the airline operates

passenger and cargo services to 86 destinations around the world from its home base in Abu

Dhabi. In 2012, Etihad carried 10.3 million passengers,

a 23% increase on the previous year. Corporate affairs

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 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

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 members of the board include: Mohammed Mubarak Fadel Al Mazrouei, Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh,

Mubarak Hamad Al Muhairi, Hamad Abdullah Al Shamsi, Khalifa Sultan Al Suwaidi and George

Cheaib. The airline is led by James Hogan who was

appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer on 10 September 2006.

Etihad Equity Alliance One of the pillars of Etihad's operation is

its equity alliance, which is composed of: Darwin Airline

Air Serbia Air Seychelles

Air Berlin Jet Airways

Virgin Australia Aer Lingus

Alitalia Business trends

The key trends for Etihad Airways since it started trading in November 2003 are shown

below:

Profits* - earlier profit/loss figures do not appear to have ever been published; the

company announced, however, that it became profitable as from 2011.

Corporate sponsorship

Current On 30 July 2007 it was announced that Etihad

Airways would become the main sponsor of Harlequins rugby club and Harlequins Rugby League club.

The sponsorship also includes renaming the East Stand at the Twickenham Stoop 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. Harlequins were Aviva Premiership champions after winning

the 2011–12 season. 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, the F1 logo and the words "Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix" appeared

on the aircraft for one month before the race. In October 2008, it was announced that Etihad

would take over sponsorship of the Docklands Stadium in Melbourne. The name change to Etihad

Stadium took effect on 1 March 2009. In May 2009, it was also announced that Etihad

would be the official sponsor of Premier League side Manchester City. Part of the deal now

includes the renaming of Manchester City's stadium to the "Etihad Stadium". Manchester

City were the Premier League champions during the 2011–2012 season.

Etihad sponsors Scuderia Ferrari in Formula 1 from 2008 onwards. 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, Etihad switched to Scuderia Ferrari.

On 19 March 2008 it was announced that Etihad Airways would become a main sponsor for the

All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship from 2008 to 2010, which was later extended until

2012. On 12 April 2012, the GAA signed a new five-year sponsorship deal with Etihad.

In November 2013, it was also announced that Etihad would be the official sponsor of Cyprus

First Division side Anorthosis Famagusta. On 25 March 2014, Etihad announced a partnership

with Major League Soccer to become the Official Airline Partner of MLS, in a multi-year deal.

Former 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, as well as the Al-Jazira Club.

Awards and recognitions Etihad Airways has received over 30 awards

since its inauguration in 2003. It has won the World Travel Awards 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 November 2013, Etihad

Airways won the "World's Leading Airline - First Class 2013" World Travel Awards

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. Etihad was awarded the World's Leading Airline in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 by the

World Travel Awards. In 2013, Etihad Airways received all three

awards in the First Class Category at the 2013 Skytrax World Airline Awards – "Best

First Class", "Best First Class Seats" and "Best First Class Catering".

On 9 June 2014 Etihad announced that was withdrawing from Skytrax.

Cargo

Etihad Cargo operates three Boeing B777F, two Boeing 747-400F, one Boeing 747-8F and

three Airbus A330-200F. Etihad Cargo has one additional Airbus A330-200F freighter scheduled

for delivery in 2014. Etihad Cargo delivered 368,000 tonnes of cargo

in 2012, a tonnage growth of 19 per cent on the back of a capacity increase of 14 per

cent in available tonnage kilometres. Etihad’s new facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport

will be equipped to handle more than 500,000 tonnes annually.

The carrier refreshed its brand image in June 2012 dropping the "Crystal" part, with full

Etihad Cargo title now applied billboard style.

Destinations

As of September 2013, Etihad serves 96 passenger and cargo destinations across Africa, Europe,

North America, South America, Asia and Australasia from its hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Etihad Airways, along with British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Korean Air, Qantas,

Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways and United Airlines, is one of the

few carriers to have services to all six inhabited continents.

Codeshare agreements Etihad Airways has codeshare agreements with

the following airlines: Additionally, Etihad Airways has a codeshare

partnership with French Railways SNCF. Fleet

The Etihad Airways fleet consists of the following aircraft:

Notes ^1 First class includes one First Residence

suite that can seat up to two passengers, and nine First Apartment suites.

Services Cabin

Etihad has 3 cabins, Diamond First Class, Pearl Business Class and Coral Economy Class.

When Etihad's A380's and B787's arrive new cabins will be introduced, their names being,

The Residence, The Apartments, First class suite, Business Studio and Economy Smart seat.

All the fleet will be retrofitted into these cabins except The residence and The apartments

which are only on the A380's. In-flight entertainment

Etihad uses both the Panasonic eX2 and the Thales TopSeries i5000 in-flight entertainment

system with AVOD 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 A330s, Airbus A340s and Boeing 777-300ER all have in-flight

telephone facility. Etihad has signed a new 10-year agreement

with Panasonic Avionics Corporation for the provision of in-flight entertainment which

will include broadband internet and live TV. Loyalty programme

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. 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.

See also Emirates

Qatar Airways Saudia

Gulf Air References

External links Etihad Airways official website

Etihad Airways Destinations