Category Archives: Etihad Airways

Etihad reorganizes, new management team installed

Etihad Aviation Group (Etihad Airways) has made this announcement:

Etihad Aviation Group (Etihad Airways) has announced a new organisational structure and operating model, effective immediately, to deliver on its mandate as it embarks on the next phase of its transformation. The reorganisation is the next step in ensuring the group is fit for purpose to prosper as a people-focused business driven by innovation, safety and sustainability, supporting Abu Dhabi’s vision for the future.

Robust organisational structure to deliver transformation of the group
New leadership team announced: promotion of Mohammad Al Bulooki to Chief Operating Officer, appointment of Robin Kamark as Chief Commercial Officer, and Ibrahim Nassir as Chief Human Resources & Organisational Development Officer, as part of new seven-strong C-suite
Almost half of the leadership team are UAE nationals

Under the new structure, the group will be reorganised into seven business divisions – Operations, Commercial, Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO), Human Resources, Finance, Support Services and Transformation, led by a new executive leadership team reporting to Group Chief Executive Officer (Group CEO), Tony Douglas, who also assumes responsibility for Etihad Airways.

His Excellency Mohamed Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei, Chairman of Etihad Aviation Group, said: “As we approach our 15-year anniversary, the reorganisation and restructure of the group and leadership team will help us lay the foundations for Etihad to optimise its value as a world-leading group, streamline operations, and capitalise on opportunities, allowing the business to focus on improving its core operating performance.

“We recorded an improvement in our operating results for 2017 and are confident that we are back on track this year, strengthening our position group-wide after a period of consolidation, bolstering our presence in key global markets, and continuing to support Abu Dhabi’s growth in the aviation, trade and tourism sectors.”

Peter Baumgartner will now serve as the Senior Strategic Advisor to Tony Douglas as part of the executive leadership team. Having led Etihad Airways as CEO since 2016, Mr. Baumgartner will advise at group level on global partnerships and innovation.

Mohammad Al Bulooki, Etihad Airways Executive Vice President Commercial, has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer, and will be responsible for core areas including network operations, flight and technical operations, fleet engineering, aviation security and safety, as well the Etihad Airport Services entity which manages ground and cargo handling, and catering. He is also responsible for the airline’s pilot and cabin crew community.

Robin Kamark has been appointed Chief Commercial Officer. Mr. Kamark, who joined Etihad Aviation Group in April 2017, will spearhead the overall commercial strategy of the airline, including cargo, sales and marketing, revenue management, customer service, network planning, and alliances. He is also charged with leading Etihad Airways’ destination management arm, Hala. Ray Gammell will assume responsibility for airline equity partners.

Ibrahim Nassir has been appointed Chief Human Resources & Organisational Development Officer, and is responsible for a wide range of support functions including, among others, learning, organisational development, medical services, talent acquisition, rewards, people services, and immigration. Mr. Nassir will also lead the group’s Emiratisation programme.

The new group organisational structure also sees Abdul Khaliq Saeed become Chief Engineering Officer (MRO); Mark Powers, Chief Financial Officer; Mana Al Mulla, Chief Support Services Officer; and Akram Alami, Chief Transformation Officer.

General Counsel and Company Secretary, Henning zur Hausen; Senior Vice President Government & International Affairs, Ahmed Al Qubaisi; and Vice President Corporate Affairs, Amina Taher, continue in their respective positions, also reporting to the Group CEO.

Tony Douglas, Group CEO, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “We are now well equipped to deliver our plans as a reinvigorated innovator brand, with an optimised and profitable network, technologically advanced fleet, and a strengthened position as the global airline of choice, run by a seasoned team of talented professionals. The fact that almost half of our leadership team are UAE nationals reflects our strong succession planning efforts and commitment to developing Emirati talent.

“We are already seeing positive results even during this early phase of our transformation. The eventual aim of this process is for Etihad to be in the best shape to ensure its long-term sustainability, enabling it to meet the challenges of an aviation industry in constant flux.

“Etihad is now positioned to continue supporting the mandate of our shareholder, and the growth and prominence of Abu Dhabi.”

Etihad’s transformation program has delivered measurable results to date, with the core airline division recently reporting a 22 per cent improvement in core operating performance for 2017, driven by improved revenues of US$ 6.1 billion and a 7.3 per cent reduction in unit costs.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Etihad Airways): Etihad Airways Airbus A380-861 A6-APH (msn 199) (Year of Zayed 2018) LHR (SPA). Image: 941800.

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

Etihad Airways reduced its loss in 2017 to $1.52 billion

Etihad Airways has made this announcement:

Etihad Airways improved its core operating performance by 22% in 2017, despite facing challenges including significant fuel cost increases, the entry into administration of its equity partners Alitalia and airberlin, and initial investment in a comprehensive business transformation program.

The airline increased revenues from core operations by 1.9% to US$ 6.1 billion (2016: US$ 5.9 billion), while reducing losses in the core operations by US $432 million to US $1.52 billion (2016: loss of US $1.95 billion). Results published for 2017 are for core airline operations and exclude any extraordinary or one-off items; 2016 figures have been restated to show a like-for-like comparison.

Passenger and cargo yields improved as a result of capacity discipline, changes to the network with an increased focus on point-to-point traffic, leveraging of technology, and improving market conditions.

A strong focus on efficiency delivered a 7.3% reduction in unit costs, despite the adverse impact of US$ 337 million from higher fuel prices.

The airline reduced administration and general expenses by 14%, or US$ 162 million, over 2016.

Etihad Airways carried 18.6 million passengers at a 78.5% load factor. Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs) increased by 1% in 2017 reflecting a significant moderation of capacity growth, and contributing to an improvement in the quality of the airline’s revenues.

Etihad Cargo reduced capacity by 6%; however, revenues declined only marginally, down 0.8%, driven by stronger load factors and yields. Etihad Cargo carried 552,000 tonnes of cargo in 2017.

H.E. Mohamed Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Board of Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Our airline continues to be a key driver of Abu Dhabi’s vision to develop its tourism sector, grow commerce and strengthen links to key regional and international markets.

“This was a pivotal year in Etihad’s transformation journey. The Board, new executive leadership team and all our employees worked extremely hard to navigate the challenges we faced. We made significant progress in driving improved performance and we are on track in 2018.”

Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Aviation Group, added: “We made good progress in improving the quality of our revenues, streamlining our cost base, improving our cash-flow and strengthening our balance sheet.

“These are solid first steps in an ongoing journey to transform this business into one that is positioned for financially sustainable growth over the long term. I would like to thank our people for their hard work and dedication in 2017.

“It is crucial that we maintain this momentum, retaining talent and attracting leading professionals from around the world to work alongside our highly-skilled UAE national workforce.”

2017 Operational Highlights

Etihad Airways received twelve new aircraft in 2017, including two Airbus A380s, nine Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, and an Airbus A330F. These aircraft replaced 16 older Airbus A340, A330, A319 passenger and A330F cargo aircraft, which exited operations, thereby reducing the average fleet age to just six years.

In 2017, the airline announced that it will cease operating to Dallas / Fort Worth, Entebbe, Jaipur, San Francisco, Tehran, and Venice. A new route between Abu Dhabi and Baku was launched in March 2018 and services to Barcelona will start on 21 November 2018.

The global route network was further improved with the introduction of the Airbus A380 on one of Etihad Airways’ two daily services to Paris Charles de Gaulle, and the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on services to Amsterdam, Athens, Amman, Madrid, Beijing, Seoul, Shanghai, Nagoya, and Melbourne.

Etihad Airways recorded network punctuality of 82% for flight departures and 86% for arrivals in 2017 – results that place the airline as one of the most reliable airlines in the world for 2017. OTP (on time performance) for departures at the airline’s Abu Dhabi hub was 79%, and 89% for arrivals.

Since its inception, Etihad has placed a strong focus on developing young Emirati talent into world-class aviation professionals, and by the end of 2017 employed 2,729 Emirati staff, representing 11% of the total Etihad Aviation Group workforce.

Peter Baumgartner, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “Our transformation process has delivered tangible results to date, with a significant improvement in performance for 2017.

“Passenger yields for the last quarter were up a very healthy 9% versus the same period a year before. On-time performance was at record levels and operationally we continue to drive down costs without compromising on safety or quality across all areas of the business.

“The major driver to becoming a more agile and efficient organisation, resilient in a very competitive landscape, is our continued investment in skilled professionals, technology and digital innovation, which is going to allow us to become smarter, faster and even more responsive to the ever-changing needs of our customers, making Etihad the airline of choice. These developments are at the heart of our transformation strategy.”

2017 results	2017	2016
Passenger Revenue (US$ billion)	5.0	4.9
Cargo Revenue (US$ billion)	0.9	0.9
Total revenue (US$ billion)	6.1	5.9
Core airline profit (loss) (US$ billion)	(1.52)	(1.95)
Total passengers (million)	18.6	18.5
Available seat kilometres (billion)	115.0	113.9
Seat factor (%)	78.5	78.6
Number of aircraft	115	119
Cargo tonnage (tonnes ‘000)	552	596

[Note] Results published for 2017 are for core operations only and exclude any extraordinary or one-off items; 2016 figures have been restated to show a like-for-like comparison.

Top Copyright Photo: Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner A6-BLJ (msn 39657) AMS (Ton Jochems). Image: 940513.

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

Etihad Airways adds new flights to Paris and Barcelona

Etihad Airways has announced the introduction of a new scheduled service linking Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, and Barcelona, Spain, effective November 21, 2018. The route will initially be operated five times a week by a two-class Airbus A330-200 before becoming a daily operation from March 31, 2019.

Additionally, Etihad Airways has announced that it will operate the Airbus A380 on its second daily service linking Abu Dhabi and Paris Charles de Gaulle. This will transform the airline’s operation between the UAE and French capitals into a year-round all-A380 service, joining London Heathrow as the second European destination enjoying daily multiple visits by Etihad’s award-winning double-decker aircraft.

Barcelona will become the second city in Spain served by Etihad Airways, complementing the airline’s existing daily service to the capital Madrid. The new link will provide business and leisure travelers with convenient timings to travel between Abu Dhabi and Barcelona, also providing seamless onward connections through Abu Dhabi to major cities in the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Korea and Australia.

The airline has operated the A380 between Abu Dhabi and Paris on one of its two daily flights since July 1, 2017, with the service performing very strongly since its introduction.

Flight schedule: Abu Dhabi – Barcelona, effective November 21, 2018:

Flight No.

Origin

Departs

Destination

Arrives

Frequency

Aircraft

EY 49

Abu Dhabi

2:20

Barcelona

06:45

Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun

Airbus A330-200

EY 50

Barcelona

09:50

Abu Dhabi

20:00

Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun

Airbus A330-200

Note: All departures and arrivals are listed in local time

Flight schedule: Abu Dhabi – Paris, effective October 1, 2018:

Flight No.

Origin

Departs

Destination

Arrives

Frequency

Aircraft

EY31

Abu Dhabi

02:15

Paris

07:40

Daily

Airbus A380

EY32

Paris

10:35

Abu Dhabi

19:25

Daily

Airbus A380

EY37

Abu Dhabi

09:05

Paris

14:20

Daily

Airbus A380

EY38

Paris

21:55

Abu Dhabi

06:40 +1

Daily

Airbus A380

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

Etihad Airways to introduce the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on the Cairo route

Etihad Airways has made this announcement:

Effective October 28, 2018, Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, will introduce a 299-seat next-generation Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on its daily mid-morning EY653 / EY654 schedule from Abu Dhabi to Cairo.

Etihad Airways will operate four daily services, the most frequent number of flights operated by any UAE airline to the Egyptian capital, offering greater choice and optimised timings to benefit business and leisure customers travelling point-to-point between the two cities.

In April 2018, Etihad Airways and EgyptAir expanded their codeshare partnership from Abu Dhabi and Cairo to include several African destinations served by the Egyptian flag-carrier from its Cairo hub, including Ndjamena in Chad, Khartoum in Sudan, Entebbe in Uganda, and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, and subject to government approvals, Abuja and Kano in Nigeria, and Asmara in Eritrea

EgyptAir places its ‘MS’ code on Etihad Airways flights from Abu Dhabi to Seoul, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, and subject to government approvals, on flights to China.

Etihad Airways’ two-class Boeing 787-9 features 28 Business Studios offering direct aisle access, a fully-flat bed of up to 80.5 inches in length, and an increase of 20 per cent in personal space.

Flight schedule: Abu Dhabi – Cairo, effective October 28, 2018 (all times local):

Flight No.	Origin	Departs	Destination	Arrives	Freq	Aircraft
EY651	Abu Dhabi	03:10	Cairo	05:20	Daily	Airbus A321
EY650	Cairo	06:25	Abu Dhabi	11:45	Daily	Airbus A321
EY653	Abu Dhabi	09:35	Cairo	11:45	Daily	Boeing 787-9
EY654	Cairo	13:35	Abu Dhabi	18:50	Daily	Boeing 787-9
EY655	Abu Dhabi	14:35	Cairo	16:45	Daily	Airbus A320
EY656	Cairo	17:50	Abu Dhabi	23:15	Daily	Airbus A320
EY657	Abu Dhabi	21:45	Cairo	23:50	Daily	Airbus A320
EY658	Cairo	00:50	Abu Dhabi	06:15	Daily	Airbus A320

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

Etihad Airways to launch new service to Barcelona

Barcelona will become the second city in Spain served by Etihad Airways, complementing the airline’s existing daily service to the capital Madrid.

The new service is being launched in time for the start of the 2018 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Middle East’s largest sporting event, held from November 23-25 at the capital’s 5.55 kilometre Yas Marina Circuit.

Etihad Airways operates an extensive codeshare partnership with Air Europa (UX), on the Spanish airline’s scheduled services from Madrid to Barcelona and 18 other major European cities.

Flight schedule: Abu Dhabi – Barcelona, effective November 21, 2018:

Flight No.	Origin	Departs	Dest.	Arrives	Freq	Aircraft
EY 49	Abu Dhabi	2:20	Barcelona	06:45	Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun	Airbus A330-200
EY 50	Barcelona	09:50	Abu Dhabi	20:00	Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun	Airbus A330-200

Note: All departures and arrivals are listed in local time.

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

Etihad Airways to optimize operations with crew management solutions

Boeing has announced an agreement with Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, to provide multiple crew management solutions to support the planning and operation of the airline’s 7,500 crewmembers.

Through the agreement, Etihad Airways will integrate Crew Pairing, Rostering and Fatigue Risk Management solutions to optimize planning, crew satisfaction and reduce costs. Provided through Boeing subsidiary Jeppesen, these solutions are powered by Boeing AnalytX and provide airlines with advanced optimization and analysis.

“By adopting crew solutions, we are confident that we will be able to respond and adapt more quickly to the ever-changing airline factors and constraints within our operation,” said Rick Allen, senior vice president operations, Etihad Airways. “Our crew team will also appreciate that their preferences will be more flexibly considered, as we will now be able to publish crew schedules further in advance.”

Crew Pairing helps airlines create optimized work duties, improving crew efficiency and operational robustness, while minimizing cost. Crew Rostering allows airlines to build quality rosters that respect crews’ preferences and relevant constraints, while reducing total costs and time to market. Fatigue Risk Management solutions, supported by the Boeing Alertness Model, provide strategies and proven solutions for reducing fatigue risk in crew rosters.

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

The United Arab Emirates and the United States conclude civil aviation discussions

The United Arab Emirates issued this statement:

The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority welcomed the announcement on May 14 on civil aviation in Washington that strongly reaffirmed and maintained all the provisions of the 2002 bilateral Air Transport Agreement between the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

The understanding confirmed at a meeting between the Foreign Ministers of both countries reinforced the principles of Open Skies that advance competition and allow airlines to freely add or adjust services to best serve travelers.

Commenting from Washington after his meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan thanked the Secretary for working to achieve understandings on civil aviation and noted: “Aviation is at the center of a UAE-US trade and commercial relationship that generates enormous benefits for both countries. This announcement confirms business as usual by validating all of the rights and benefits –including ‘Fifth Freedom’ services — of the 2002 Air Transport Agreement between the two countries. UAE and US airlines will continue to have complete commercial flexibility to add or adjust service to meet travelers needs.”

“We are pleased that the discussions with the US have come to an end. They confirmed what was clear from the very beginning – that the UAE’s international airlines have operated in complete compliance with the 2002 Agreement,” said UAE Minister of Economy and Chairman of General Civil Aviation Authority His Excellency Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori. “Importantly, there is no freeze on or any change to operating rights. The UAE’s international airlines can plan and begin new service, including Fifth Freedom flights, without limits and consistent with the 2002 Agreement.”

UAE airlines currently serve 12 US gateways with 131 flights a week. These flights generate tens of billions of dollars into the US and UAE economies, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs in both countries. The US has a $15 billion trade surplus with the UAE, largely driven by sales of Boeing aircraft with GE engines to UAE airlines, and the UAE also invests hundreds of billions of dollars into the US.

Etihad Airways and EgyptAir expand their codeshare partnership

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, and Egyptian national airline EgyptAir, have announced a significant expansion of their successful codeshare partnership, widening their horizons to cover more destinations in Africa, North Asia and Australia for the benefit and convenience of their customers. Sales on the expanded agreement will come into effect from today, for travel from May 2, 2018.

The initial phase of the agreement was launched in March 2017 and saw both Etihad Airways and EgyptAir place their codes on each other’s flights operating between Abu Dhabi and Cairo. The second phase of expansion of the current codeshare partnership will see Etihad Airways place its ‘EY’ code on EgyptAir flights to a number of African destinations including Ndjamena in Chad, Nairobi in Kenya, Khartoum in Sudan, Entebbe in Uganda, Johannesburg in South Africa, and subject to government approvals, on flights to Nigeria, Eritrea and Tanzania, through the Star Alliance carrier’s Cairo hub.

The expanded partnership will also see EgyptAir place its ‘MS’ code on Etihad Airways flights from Abu Dhabi to Seoul, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, and subject to government approvals, on flights to China.

Etihad Airways has been serving the Abu Dhabi – Cairo route since 2004, and currently operates five daily flights between the two capitals. EGYPTAIR operates up to three daily services on the route.

Top Copyright Photo: Etihad Airways Airbus A330-243 A6-EYH (msn 729) BRU (Ton Jochems). Image: 941607.

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

EgyptAir aircraft slide show:

Bottom Copyright Photo: EgyptAir Boeing 777-36N ER SU-GDO (msn 38289) LHR (SPA). Image: 941608.

Etihad Airways to drop Perth and Edinburgh

Etihad Airways will end the Abu Dhabi – Perth route. The last departure from Perth will be on October 1 according to Airline Route.

The carrier will also drop the Abu Dhabi – Edinburgh route on September 30.

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

Etihad Airways enhances its onboard food offering with the addition of ‘Weqaya’ menu items

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has collaborated with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, to introduce ‘Weqaya,’ a range of healthy food items, on-board its flights and in its lounges in Abu Dhabi.

Weqaya, meaning ‘prevention,’ is a program established by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi with the aim of encouraging people to eat a healthy and balanced diet to promote good health and wellbeing.

Starting in April, Etihad Airways will begin to offer a number of Weqaya dishes on menus in First and Business Class long-haul and ultra-long haul outbound flights from Abu Dhabi, and First and Business Class lounges in Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Photos: Etihad Airways.