Which is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates?

Etihad AirwaysEtihad, the national airline of the UAE, has been flying to cities across the world since its launch in 2004, from its hub at the Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Etihad Airways (Arabic: شَرِكَة ٱلْاِتِّحَاد لِلطَّيْرَان, romanized: sharikat al-ittiḥād li-ṭ-ṭayarān) is one of two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates (the other being Emirates). Its head office is in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, near Abu Dhabi International Airport. Etihad commenced operations in November 2003.[5] It is the second-largest airline in the UAE after Emirates. The name Etihad is Arabic for ‘Union’.

The airline operates more than 1,000 flights per week to over 120 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America, with a fleet of 102 Airbus and Boeing aircraft as of February 2020. Its main base is Abu Dhabi International Airport.[

In addition to its core activity of passenger transportation, Etihad also operates Etihad Holidays and Etihad Cargo.] Etihad established its airline alliance, Etihad Airways Partners, in October 2015] which was disbanded in 2018 after several of its members fell into financial difficulties. Etihad Airways holds minority equity investments in the participating airlines, as well as having had a stake in Virgin Australia, until its insolvency in April 2020 with no return on investment. Booking for these airlines was consolidated under one network.

History

A now-retired Airbus A340-500 wearing the first livery (with the older UAE coat of arms)
A now-retired Airbus A340-600 in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix livery
A Boeing 787-9 landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport with the current livery.

Back

The emirate of Abu Dhabi was a joint-owner of Gulf Air along with Bahrain, Qatar, and the Sultanate of Oman. Abu Dhabi International Airport was one of Gulf Air’s bases and hubs from the 1970s until 2005,[] when Abu Dhabi withdrew from the airline, leaving it an Oman and Bahrain-owned airline until the Oman’s exit in 2007 in order to focus on Oman Air. Today, Gulf Air is focusing only operating out of Bahrain.

The Naming

‘Etihad’ in Arabic means union or unity. The name represents the unity of the seven Emirates of the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah).

Foundation

In July 2003, future UAE president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who wanted an airline for Abu Dhabi, issued a Royal (Amiri) Decree that established Etihad Airways as the national airline of the United Arab Emirates. His relation Sheikh Ahmed bin Saif Al Nahyan founded and 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, Lebanon.

In June 2004, the airline placed a US$8-billion aircraft order for Six Boeing 777-200LRs and 24 Airbus aircraft, including 10 Airbus A380s. Its first A380 was delivered in December 2014.[

In June 2008 at the Farnborough Airshow the airline announced an order for 35 Boeing 787s and ten 777s, options for 25 787s and ten 777s and purchase rights on ten 787s and five 777s.[

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.[

Equity Alliance

In December 2011, Etihad announced it had taken a 29.21% stake in Air Berlin,[15] Europe’s sixth-largest airline, and Hogan was appointed Vice Chairman. It followed this up with minority stakes in other airlines—Air Seychelles (40%),[] Aer Lingus (2.987%),[ Virgin Australia (10%).[18] On 1 August 2013, the president of the company, 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.[] The Serbian Government retained 51% of the shares, with the company being rebranded as Air Serbia.[

In September 2012, the Indian government announced that foreign airlines could take a stake of up to 49% in Indian carriers. On 24 April 2013, Jet Airways announced that it was ready to sell a 24% stake in the airline to Etihad for US$379 million. The deal was completed on 12 November 2013.[citation needed]

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.[] Etihad sold its stake in Darwin in 2017.

On 1 August 2014, Etihad agreed to take a 49% stake in the Italian flag carrier Alitalia for an estimated €560 million. The deal was closed on 8 August 2014.[] On 1 January 2015, Alitalia-CAI formally passed its operations to Alitalia-SAI, a new entity owned 49% by Etihad and 51% by the Alitalia-CAI shareholders.[

In May 2016, the management structure was reshuffled, as Hogan became CEO of the airline’s parent company, Etihad Aviation Group. Peter Baumgartner, formerly the airline’s Chief Commercial Officer, became chief executive officer of the airline, reporting to Hogan.[] In December 2016 Handelsblatt Global reported that Hogan was going to be dismissed after a “failed spree of acquisitions in Europe.”[

On 24 January 2017, the Etihad Aviation Group Board of Directors announced that Hogan (along with Group CFO James Rigney) would be stepping down “in the second half of 2017”.[] Peter Baumgartner, (former CEO of the airline), became the acting CEO of the airline as it faced mounting losses from its investments in Air Berlin and Alitalia.[] On 2 May 2017 Alitalia filed for bankruptcy.[] Hogan and Rigney left Etihad later that month.[ On 27 July Etihad reported a loss of US$1.873 billion for 2016.[ On 15 August Air Berlin filed for bankruptcy after Etihad withdrew its financial support.

As an interim measure, the board of directors appointed Ray Gammell as CEO (previously Chief People and Performance Officer) while searching for a permanent replacement. On 9 January 2018, Etihad Airways appointed Mark Powers as Group CFO, replacing interim Group CFO Ricky Thirion.

On 2 July 2017, the United States Department of Homeland Security unbanned Etihad Airways and exempted Etihad Airways from the 2017 electronics ban after the airline enhanced its passenger screening processes.

In June 2018 Etihad reported a net loss of US$1.52 billion for 2017.

In February 2019, Etihad announced large order cancellations for both Airbus and Boeing aircraft. The airline terminated contracts for all 42 Airbus A350-900s, 2 A350-1000s and 19 of 24 ordered Boeing 777X.

On 1 May 2021 it was announced Etihad Airways sold its 40% stake in Air Seychelles back to the Government of Seychelles