The news comes as Etihad implements a plethora of program enhancements that were announced earlier in the year designed to award members from the moment they join.聽

Unbeknownst to the lucky 10 millionth loyalty member they are set to receive a 鈥渟ensational upgrade鈥� which will see them immediately become a Platinum Tier guest.  

The Platinum Tier is set aside for the airline精东影业 most frequent flyers with 125,000 miles normally required before being awarded the status. 

 鈥淲e are delighted to welcome our 10 millionth member to the Etihad Guest family. In parallel to the airline精东影业 own growth trajectory, we鈥檝e seen an exciting expansion in our member numbers which have leapt by a quarter since the beginning of 2023,鈥� Mark Potter, Managing Director of Etihad Guest, said. 

He added: 鈥淭he lucky guest who has become the 10 millionth member is in for an incredible surprise when they are notified later this month.鈥� 

Etihad, which is the UAE flag carrier alongside Emirates, boasts a global membership, with its largest membership bases being spread across the UAE, India, the UK, the United States (US) and Australia. 

Those that become an Etihad member for the first time are given Bronze Tier status and are granted core benefits that includes free access to onboard Wi-Fi packages. 

The more members fly with the airline the more benefits they unlock with extra baggage and priority check-in and boarding among the most popular. 

Members can also customize their benefits so that they can select the ones of most value to them individually.  

Etihad has also now introduced 鈥楤eyond Benefits鈥� for the most loyal members which sees Gold Tier members (those who earned 75,000 miles) and Platinum Tier holders given access to two more rewards.聽

And the new , Etihad精东影业 highest level, offers the airline精东影业 most loyal flyers a wide range of bespoke, valuable benefits curated specially for them.聽

To reach the top tier, members must hold the platinum level and spend $150,000 over a rolling 12-month period on Etihad flights. 

Etihad begins huge recruitment drive to find its future pilot workforce聽聽聽

• Airlines
• Aviation Career
• SPONSORED

by精东影业 Advisory Team

2024-06-27

The design features an intricate line-style pattern celebrating different elements representative of Abu Dhabi, the carrier精东影业 home emirate. 

The livery has been applied to one of the new A321neo aircraft that have recently joined Etihad精东影业 fleet.聽

Etihad has also published a video on social media showing this livery’s painting process.

Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad精东影业 Chief Executive Officer, said the livery 鈥渞eflects the journey we have been on, and it also sets the tone for our future as we give flight to our ambition, to be the airline that everyone wants to fly.鈥�  

In May 2024, Etihad received its first A321neo aircraft, the first of six that previously used to operate for Vietnamese carrier Bamboo Airways and expected to arrive before the end of 2024.  

Etihad ordered 26 A321neo aircraft directly with Airbus in 2013. However, the order has been deferred several times.  

During the new livery presentation, John Wright, Etihad精东影业 Chief Operations and Guest Officer, mentioned that the carrier is preparing to welcome an additional 20 aircraft in 2025, although he did not provide the exact makeup of the new fleet arrivals. 

The launch of a twice-weekly freighter service between Abu Dhabi and Madrid will increase the airline精东影业 total number of flights to Spain to 25 per week. Etihad Cargo offers its customers belly capacity on 10 Etihad passenger services to Madrid each week, 10 to Barcelona, plus three seasonal flights to Malaga launched as part of the airline’s 2024 northern summer schedule.  

According to a company statement, 鈥淭his expansion highlights the strategic importance of these destinations, particularly Madrid as a key European fashion hub, and aims to boost e-commerce connectivity from Asia to Europe via Etihad Cargo’s Abu Dhabi hub.鈥� 

“Launching Madrid as Etihad Cargo精东影业 latest European freighter destination supports the growing demand for e-commerce flows between Asia and Europe,鈥� said Stanislas Brun, Vice President of Cargo at Etihad Cargo. 鈥淢adrid’s role as a key fashion hub makes it an essential destination for the carrier精东影业 freighter network.”聽

This new route complements Etihad Cargo’s existing European freighter network, which includes six weekly flights to Amsterdam and three weekly flights to Frankfurt. With the addition of Madrid to the network, the total number of Etihad Cargo’s freighter flights to Europe increases to 11 per week overall. 

Additionally, Etihad Cargo customers can also benefit from additional belly hold capacity offered as part of the carrier精东影业 2024 summer schedule, which includes the launch of two weekly seasonal flights to Nice, France. Flights to Athens in Greece will also be increasing to 14 per week, with two operating via seasonal destination Mykonos and two via Santorini.  

A new route to Antalya will operate with three weekly flights, and flights to Istanbul will increase from 10 to 14 per week starting on July 22, 2024. Additionally, Dublin will see three more flights from July 23, 2024, totaling 10 per week.聽

According to ch-aviation, Etihad Cargo operates a fleet of five Boeing 777-200F freighters and also has an additional seven Airbus A350Fs on order.聽聽聽聽

Three Airbus A340-600 passenger planes find new lease of life as freighters聽聽聽聽聽

• Air Cargo

byLuke Peters

2024-06-14

The new route, which is now Etihad精东影业 11th Indian city, was celebrated with a welcome ceremony at Jaipur International Airport on June 19, 2024.

Located in Northwestern India, Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan state and is known for its historic forts and buildings painted pink in anticipation of Queen Victoria精东影业 visit in 1876.

Etihad said the new route enables more visitors to explore Abu Dhabi, and travelers flying from Jaipur to the United States can take advantage of the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility at AUH Airport, streamlining the immigration process and ensuring a hassle-free journey.

The start of the Jaipur service further underlines the airline精东影业 deepening commitment to the Indian market, where the airline has increased its capacity by a third over the past 12 months.

鈥淲ith the resurgence of outbound travel from India, we are thrilled to start four weekly flights to Jaipur, a significant cultural and commercial center,鈥� said Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways in a statement.

鈥淏y establishing this crucial air link with Rajasthan, we aim to meet the increasing demand from travelers in and around the region, providing them with convenient access to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and seamless connectivity to our extensive global network,鈥� Neves added.

The flights will be serviced with aircraft from the Airbus A320 family, and will operate on the following schedules:

EY 0366 depart AUH 03:05 local time arrive JAI 08:05 local time (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday)

EY 0367 depart JAI 11:00 local time arrive AUH 13:00 local time (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday)

Etihad Airways, China Eastern enter strategic partnership, sign joint venture

• Airlines

byJean Carmela Lim

2024-06-06

According to Etihad, the JV, signed at its headquarters in Abu Dhabi, marks the first commercial joint venture between Middle Eastern and Chinese airlines. 

The JV will allow the two airlines to develop and grow routes between the UAE and China, resulting in a stronger combined network.

The agreement will offer expanded travel options and seamless travel experiences for passengers traveling between major Chinese cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Xi鈥檃n, and Kunming, and key cities in the UAE and across the Middle East and Africa regions.

The two airlines are also set to introduce full reciprocity to their existing frequent flier programs in the final quarter of 2024, allowing passengers to earn points and redeem rewards when flying with either airline.

The joint venture cooperation will be implemented in early 2025, by which time both airlines should have secured all necessary regulatory clearances. 

鈥淭his JV marks a significant milestone in our partnership with China Eastern,鈥� Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways said in a statement. He added that the agreement will allow Etihad and China Eastern to offer travelers enhanced travel options and 鈥渆xceptional value鈥�.

鈥淲e are confident the JV will unlock a new era of travel opportunities, while also boosting the economic growth of Abu Dhabi and the UAE,鈥� Antonoaldo said.

Meanwhile, China Eastern Airlines Chairman Wang Zhiqing has highlighted that 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the UAE.

Wang said that both countries continue to develop and strengthen the 鈥渉igh-value, strategic collaboration on the Belt and Road Initiative鈥�, creating opportunities and motivation for deepening cooperation between China Eastern Airlines and Etihad Airways. 

鈥淭he signing of this JV signifies a new level of collaboration, and China Eastern is eager to work with Etihad Airways to expand the cooperation in the various business areas, and thereby enhance the strategic partnership between both airlines,” Wang said.聽

Etihad Airways announces global cabin crew recruitment campaign聽

• Airlines

byJean Carmela Lim

2024-05-31

The flag carriers of the UAE and Morocco have declared that they plan to work more closely together for the benefit of their customers by energizing commercial and operational ties.

Etihad and Royal Air Maroc announced the new partnership on June 3, 3024, which includes offering both sets of customers 鈥渆xpanded choices, superior services, and added value, all while fostering sustainable aviation鈥�.

Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: 鈥淭his agreement covers a broad range of activities from exploring the expansion of existing codeshare arrangements to cover more domestic routes in Morocco and Africa, to looking at developing existing frequent flyer program co-operation, and exploring collaborations on ground handling, maintenance and engineering.”

Royal Air Maroc and Etihad Airways have agreed to enhance their collaboration for the benefit of their customers by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation ties in many fields.

— Royal Air Maroc (@RAM_Maroc)

A pre-existing codeshare already gives customers of both airlines enhanced connectivity to destinations across each other精东影业 networks.

The codeshare agreement also enables guests to book their entire journey on a single ticket and have their baggage checked through seamlessly to their end destination.

Abdelhamid Addou, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Royal Air Maroc, said: 鈥淲e are very proud to establish this important partnership with Etihad Airways, which aligns with our ambition to further enhance our connectivity and continue offering our passengers a more optimized and seamless travel experience through our respective hubs.鈥�

Etihad reveals fleet plans until 2030, A380s to stay until at least 2032

• Airlines

byLuke Peters

2024-05-30

In line with its growth plans, the airline said it has already recruited more than 1,000 cabin crew this year and is preparing to welcome around 1,000 more by the end of 2024.

Etihad精东影业 diverse cabin crew is made up of people from 112 nationalities, all based in Abu Dhabi.

Along with a competitive tax-free salary, Etihad cabin crew are provided with fully-furnished modern accommodation, medical insurance, allowances, and have access to discounts on dining, shopping, leisure activities, car hire and more.

Cabin crew also enjoy travel benefits and have access to a wide range of destinations.

Etihad will conduct Open Days and Invitation Days from June to the end of 2024 in the following cities:

Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Athens, Antalya, Malaga, Manchester, Copenhagen, Vienna, Singapore, Nice, Dublin, Amsterdam, Brussels, Dusseldorf, Milan, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Colombo and Jaipur.

According to the airline, 31% of its cabin crew members were promoted within the past 12 months. A number were also promoted to positions in the corporate division at the airline精东影业 headquarters, to pursue careers in marketing, guest experience, network operations, aviation training and finance.

鈥淭his World Cabin Crew Day, we celebrate and recognise the contribution that our Cabin Crew make to our airline精东影业 success,鈥� Dr Nadia Bastaki, Etihad Airways Chief People and Corporate Affairs Officer said in a statement.

鈥淎s Etihad continues to grow, we are looking for exceptional individuals to join our team who share our ambition to become the airline that everyone wants to fly. We鈥檙e looking for the world精东影业 best, who will embrace our passion for growing the airline and share our commitment to providing warm hospitality and a truly remarkable experience for our guests,鈥� Bastaki added.

Etihad cabin crew will have the opportunity to work across the airline精东影业 fleet including the superjumbo Airbus A380s, Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 777s, Airbus A350s and Airbus A320 and A321 family.

Requirements to be eligible for cabin crew application include the following:

Minimum of 21 years of age at time of application 

• Minimum height of 160 cm
• Able to inspire our guests through innovative hospitality
• Fluent in English (written and spoken)
• High school graduate (Grade 12)
• No visible tattoos while you鈥檙e in your Etihad cabin crew uniform (cosmetic and bandage coverings aren鈥檛 allowed)
• Comfortable to work irregular hours and on a roster

Interested candidates are invited to attend an Open Day, or register their interest and apply online at careers.etihad.com. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an in-person or virtual assessment.

Thousands of hopefuls line up for Emirates cabin crew open day in Manila

• Airlines

byJean Carmela Lim

2024-04-09

The agreement, announced at the Future Aviation Forum being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between May 20 and 22, 2024, lays the groundwork for a commercial partnership that aims to recruit and train prospective pilots for Archer精东影业 Midnight aircraft that will be based in Abu Dhabi and operate across the UAE.  

Archer精东影业 Midnight aircraft is a piloted, four-passenger aircraft designed to perform rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time between flights. Archer精东影业 goal is to transform urban travel, replacing 60 to 90-minute commutes by car with estimated 10 to 20-minute electric air taxi flights that are safe, sustainable, low-noise, and cost-competitive with ground transportation.  

California-based Archer has been working with various entities within Abu Dhabi and Dubai to accelerate the operation of its air taxi services across the region. In March 2024, the eVTOL developer formed a partnership with the flight service operator Falcon Aviation to develop a vertiport network in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE to enable flights between the two cities.鈥�

Under the partnership, the two companies will develop vertiport infrastructure in the region that will cut the two-hour car journey between Dubai and Abu Dhabi during peak times to 30 minutes by eVTOL.鈥疺ertiports will be located at Falcon Heliport at Atlantis, the Palm in Dubai, and the Marina Mall heliport in Abu Dhabi精东影业 Corniche.鈥� 

Meanwhile, in April 2024, Archer and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) signed an agreement that will accelerate Archer精东影业 planned commercial air taxi operations in the UAE, slated to launch as early as 2025. 

鈥淭raining a fleet of pilots to operate our aircraft is a critically important part of our efforts to establish a thriving urban air mobility network in Abu Dhabi and the rest of the UAE, and Etihad Training is the premier organization to partner with on this front,鈥� said Archer精东影业 Chief Commercial Officer, Nikhil Goel.  

鈥淎s Etihad Training精东影业 first eVTOL partner, we will commence a thoughtful recruiting process and begin to train the first class of qualified pilots to operate Archer精东影业 Midnight aircraft for commercial operations within the region,鈥� he added. 

鈥淓tihad Aviation Training today recruits and trains pilots to fly with dozens of global airlines,鈥� commented Etihad Training精东影业 CEO, Captain Paolo La Cava. 鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 be more excited to choose Archer as our first eVTOL partner to recruit and train the first class of electric air taxi pilots to fly Archer精东影业 Midnight aircraft right here in Abu Dhabi as soon as 2025. We look forward to installing the Archer Midnight flight simulator in our facilities later this year.鈥澛�

As part of the planned partnership, Archer intends to deliver a Midnight aircraft simulator to be housed and staffed by Etihad Training at its training center in Abu Dhabi for research and development of pilot training competencies, to support the required regulatory certifications.  

Additionally, Etihad Training will engage with the General Civil Aviation Authority of the UAE to establish appropriate pilot training requirements in support of safe and efficient operations of Archer精东影业 aircraft across the region.聽

Lilium considers setting up eVTOL production plant in France

• Aviation Technology and Innovation

byClement Charpentreau

2024-05-14

The announcement means that Paris joins London and more recently New York in a select group of worldwide cities that will be served the famous Etihad A380 experience.  

When Etihad pulled the A380 from service in 2020, it was understood that the aircraft would not see the light of day again, so the introduction of the Paris route signals a massive turnaround for the superjumbo. 

Etihad will start flying its A380 double-decker to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) from November 1, 2024, with a daily service from Zayed International Airport (AUH) in Abu Dhabi.  

The Airbus A350-1000 currently runs this route for Etihad so there is a significant leap in capacity availability with the advent of the A380 service.

馃嚝馃嚪 Our A380 is saying 鈥楤onjour, Paris!鈥� 馃 Get ready to indulge in the joie de vivre as our magnificent A380 whisks you away to Paris starting 1 November. Featuring our signature Residence, as well as our First Apartments, Business Studios, and magnifique Economy class, you鈥檒l鈥�

— Etihad Airways (@etihad)

鈥淎s a city celebrated for its style and ambiance, Paris is the perfect destination for our iconic A380 aircraft. This enhancement reflects our commitment to delivering award-winning comfort and service across all cabin classes. The introduction of the A380 on the Abu Dhabi 鈥� Paris route enriches both leisure and corporate travel. It underscores Etihad’s commitment to facilitating business connections and travel to Abu Dhabi and beyond,鈥� Antonoaldo Neves, CEO at Etihad Airways, said. 

The Etihad A380 will feature 337 鈥楽mart seats鈥� featuring Etihad精东影业 innovative fixed-wing headrests and large pillows while a further 68 seats offer four inches extra legroom. 

Etihad精东影业 鈥楤usiness Studios鈥� feature 70 private spots, complemented by 鈥楾he Lobby鈥� lounge area while the 鈥楩irst Apartments鈥� includes nine private spaces, designer tableware, leather chairs, and a big ottoman-bed.  

First class guests also receive personal amenities and can enjoy an exclusive shower room. 

鈥楾he Residence鈥� accommodates up to two guests, who have access to a three-room suite, a private living room, bedroom, and ensuite bathroom, complete with a shower at 40,000 feet. 

EY31 will depart Abu Dhabi at 02:40 and arrive in Paris at 07:30, while the return flight leaves 09:45 and lands back at AUH at 19:25. 

Etihad Airways A380 service to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) restarted on April 22, 2024.  

Etihad restarts Airbus A380 services to New York-JFK with a new daily flight聽聽

• Airlines

byLuke Peters

2024-04-22

In what will become the fourth Saudi Arabian destination Etihad Airways operates to, the carrier confirmed from June 24, 2024, it will fly to Al Qassim, a province in the Middle Eastern country.

Flights between Abu Dhabi精东影业 Zayed International Airport (AUH) and Al Qassim精东影业 Prince Naif Bin Abdulaziz International Airport (ELQ) are scheduled to take off four times each week.

“Launching the new service to Al Qassim this year is not just about introducing a new destination; it’s also a celebration of Etihad精东影业 20 years of connecting Abu Dhabi with the rich culture and economic opportunities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,鈥� Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer at Etihad Airways, said.

De added: 鈥淭his move is aligned with our mission to deliver extraordinary experiences and the opportunity to explore the unique allure of both Abu Dhabi and our new destinations, like Al Qassim. We’re proud to expand our services within the Kingdom and look forward to welcoming passengers to experience our renowned hospitality and service.”

Al Qassim is known for its date palm groves, rich cultural heritage, and lively markets. The new route is designed to attract business travelers seeking new ventures and tourists.

Further expansion for Etihad Airways

Etihad also announced it was boosting service frequency to several key destinations from June 15, 2024, as well as the launch of a new route to Antalya in Turkey and a new operation to Jaipur in India from June 16, 2024, as previously announced.

From June the weekly flights to Thiruvananthapuram, India, and Amman, Jordan will be increased by three each, totaling 10 and 14 respectively.

There will also be three more flights a week to Cairo in Egypt (24), Karachi in Pakistan (17) and Colombo in Sri Lanka (20).

The latest expansion contributes to an overall 33% increase in Etihad精东影业 total weekly flights, growing from 642 last summer to 855 in 2024 and extends the carrier精东影业 reach from 65 to 76 destinations.

Etihad Airways welcomes three new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners to its fleet

• Aircraft
• Airlines

byIan Molyneaux

2024-02-23