Etihad Airways facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Etihad Airways

Founded	July 2003; 22 years ago (2003-07)
Commenced operations	November 2003; 21 years ago (2003-11)
Hubs	Zayed International Airport
Frequent-flyer program	Etihad Guest Etihad One Club
Subsidiaries	Air Arabia Abu Dhabi 51%
Fleet size	90
Destinations	77
Parent company	Etihad Aviation Group
Headquarters	Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Key people	Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa (Chairman) Antonoaldo Neves (CEO)
Employees	8,112 (June 2022)

Etihad Airways (which means 'Union' in Arabic) is a major airline from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It's one of the two main airlines representing the UAE, the other being Emirates. Etihad's main office is in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, close to Zayed International Airport.

The airline started flying in November 2003. It quickly grew to become the second-largest airline in the UAE. Etihad flies over 1,000 times each week to more than 120 places around the world. These places are in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. As of January 2024, Etihad uses a fleet of 85 Airbus and Boeing airplanes. Its main base is at Zayed International Airport.

Besides carrying passengers, Etihad also runs Etihad Holidays for travel packages and Etihad Cargo for shipping goods. The airline used to have its own group of partner airlines called Etihad Airways Partners, which started in 2015 but stopped in 2018.

History of Etihad Airways

An older Airbus A340-500 that used to fly for Etihad, showing its first design.

An older Airbus A340-600 with a special design for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

How Etihad Started

Before Etihad, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi was a part-owner of another airline called Gulf Air. This was with Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman. Zayed International Airport was a main base for Gulf Air from the 1970s until 2005. That's when the UAE decided to leave Gulf Air.

What the Name Means

The name Etihad means 'union' or 'unity' in Arabic. It stands for the unity of the seven Emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. These are Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah.

Founding the Airline

In July 2003, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who would later become the UAE president, wanted Abu Dhabi to have its own airline. He issued a special order to create Etihad Airways as the national airline. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saif Al Nahyan founded the airline with about 500 million AED (around US$136 million) to start.

Etihad's first special flight was to Al Ain on November 5, 2003. Commercial flights began on November 12, 2003, with a flight to Beirut, Lebanon.

In June 2004, Etihad placed a huge order for new airplanes, worth US$8 billion. This included 6 Boeing 777-200s and 24 Airbus planes, like 10 Airbus A380s. The first A380 was delivered in December 2014. In June 2008, Etihad ordered even more planes, including 35 Boeing 787s.

Etihad made its first full-year profit in 2011. This was part of a plan set by CEO James Hogan in 2006.

Airline Partnerships

Etihad used to invest in other airlines around the world. In December 2011, Etihad bought a part of Air Berlin. They also bought smaller parts of airlines like Air Seychelles, Aer Lingus, and Virgin Australia. In 2013, Etihad bought 49% of the Serbian airline Jat Airways, which was then renamed Air Serbia.

In 2013, Etihad also bought a 24% share in Jet Airways from India. Later, in 2014, they bought a 33.3% share in the Swiss airline Darwin Airline, which became Etihad Regional. However, Etihad sold its share in Darwin in 2017.

On August 1, 2014, Etihad also agreed to buy 49% of the Italian airline Alitalia. This deal was completed later that month.

Over time, some of these partnerships faced financial problems. In 2017, Alitalia filed for bankruptcy, and Air Berlin also filed for bankruptcy after Etihad stopped its financial support. Etihad reported big losses from these investments.

In February 2019, Etihad canceled many of its orders for new Airbus and Boeing planes. By 2021, Etihad sold its share in Air Seychelles. In 2023, the Serbian government bought back all shares from Etihad, taking full ownership of Air Serbia.

COVID-19 Pandemic Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic greatly affected airlines worldwide. In 2020, there were rumors that Etihad might stop using its large Airbus A380 planes and cancel orders for new Airbus A350s. Etihad's CEO, Tony Douglas, mentioned that the A380s might not fly passengers again because smaller planes were more efficient.

However, Etihad later confirmed it would not cancel its A350 orders. While the A380s were grounded for a while, Etihad became the first airline to vaccinate all its pilots and cabin crew against COVID-19 in February 2021.

During 2020, Etihad's passenger numbers dropped by 76% because many flights were stopped. The airline also had to let go of over 1,000 cabin crew and pilots.

Return to Profitability

In July 2022, Etihad announced that it had made a profit of $296 million in the first half of the year. This was a big achievement and happened because more people started traveling again. Etihad carried 3 million more passengers in the first half of 2022 compared to 2021.

In October 2022, Etihad Airways became part of ADQ, a big investment company owned by Abu Dhabi. This brought Etihad, along with other travel companies like Wizz Air Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Airports, under the same ownership.

Even though Etihad had grounded its fleet of 10 A380-800 planes, they decided to bring them back into service. In 2023, four of these large planes returned to fly on the London Heathrow route. Etihad also announced that an A380 would return to their New York JFK route in April 2024.

Corporate Affairs

Head Office

Etihad's main office is in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, very close to Zayed International Airport. In 2007, Etihad spent about 183.6 million UAE dirhams (US$50 million) to build its new head office and training center. This new building was finished by the end of 2007.

Leadership

Etihad is managed by a board of directors. The current CEO of Etihad Group is Antonoaldo Neves. Past CEOs include James Hogan (from 2006 to 2018) and Tony Douglas (from 2018 to 2022).

Business Trends

Here are some key facts about Etihad Airways' business over the years:

Company Slogans

Etihad has used several slogans over the years:

• From Abu Dhabi to the World – This is often used by the airline.
• The World Is Our Home, You Are Our Guest – Used in 2013.
• Flying Reimagined – Used in 2015, this was part of a big ad campaign.
• Choose Well – Used in 2018.

Corporate Sponsorships

Etihad Stadium, the home of Manchester City Football Club.

An Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 with a special Manchester City F.C. design.

Etihad Airways sponsors many sports teams and events around the world.

Current Team Sponsorships

Event and Organisation Sponsorships

• On December 18, 2007, Etihad became the main sponsor for the 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
• In October 2008, Etihad took over the sponsorship of the Docklands Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. It was renamed Etihad Stadium on March 1, 2009.
• Etihad also sponsored the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship from 2008 to 2012.
• On March 25, 2014, Etihad became the Official Airline Partner of Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States.
• Etihad Airways was the main sponsor for the 2015 and 2016 Etihad Airways GAA World Games.
• In 2017, Etihad Airways worked with IMG Models on a show called Model Diaries.

Cargo Services

An Etihad Cargo Boeing 777F plane.

Etihad Cargo is the part of Etihad that focuses on shipping goods. It used to be called Etihad Crystal Cargo. In June 2012, they updated their look and dropped "Crystal" from the name.

Etihad Cargo uses six Boeing 777F cargo planes. They used to operate Boeing 747-400F and Boeing 747-8F planes that were leased. In January 2018, Etihad decided to stop using its five Airbus A330-200F cargo planes. By August 2018, all five of these planes were sold to DHL Aviation.

In 2012, Etihad Cargo delivered 368,000 tonnes of goods. Etihad's new cargo facility at Zayed International Airport can handle over 500,000 tonnes of cargo each year. In September 2018, Etihad Cargo changed its cargo routes to focus on its main operations with a smaller fleet.

Destinations

As of June 2023, Etihad flies to 81 passenger and cargo destinations. These places are in Africa, Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia. All flights start from its main hub at Zayed International Airport. Etihad used to fly to all six continents where people live, until it stopped its service to São Paulo in March 2017.

In early 2021, the airline stopped its flights to South Africa. In April 2021, Etihad started a new route to Tel Aviv, Israel, flying twice a week. In June 2023, Etihad announced that it would increase the number of flights on some routes, like flying to Rome from Abu Dhabi eleven times a week instead of seven.

Codeshare Agreements

Etihad Airways has special agreements called codeshare agreements with many other airlines. This means you can book a flight with Etihad, but actually fly on a plane operated by one of these partner airlines.

Fleet

Etihad Airways uses a mix of different types of airplanes. Their fleet includes both smaller and larger planes from the Airbus A320 family, Airbus A350-1000, Airbus A380-800, Boeing 777, and Boeing 787 Dreamliner families. In total, they have 89 aircraft.

During the pandemic, Etihad grounded its 10 Airbus A380-800 planes. At first, they didn't plan to bring them back. However, they later decided to return four of these large planes to service in 2023 for their London Heathrow route. The airline will also bring the A380 back to their New York JFK route in April 2024.

Livery (Plane Design)

Current Design (Since 2014)

The current design on Etihad's planes is called Facets of Abu Dhabi. It was first shown in September 2014 on their new A380 planes. This design features gold and silver triangle patterns on the tail and the back of the plane. The Etihad logo is in gold above the windows, and the UAE flag is painted near the front door. The background color is a light beige, and the wingtips also have the UAE emblem. The golden color is inspired by the Arabian desert.

Former Design (2003–2017)

The older design featured the UAE flag and national emblem on the tail. A golden Etihad logo was placed on the windows, and red and golden stripes ran along the side of the plane. A few Boeing 777-300ERs and Airbus A320s still have this older design.

Services on Board

An older "Pearl Business Class" cabin on a former Etihad Airbus A340-500 in 2007.

Older Economy Class seats on an Etihad Boeing 777-300ER in 2006.

Etihad Airways offers "The Residence" on its Airbus A380-800s, which includes a bedroom, living room, and shower.

The "First Apartment" on an Airbus A380-800.

The "Business Studio" on an Airbus A380-800.

New Cabins (Since December 2014)

When Etihad introduced the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787, they also launched new cabin designs. These include:

The Residence (Airbus A380 only)

This is a very luxurious space for one or two people, about 125 square feet in size. It has a private living room with a large sofa and TV, a bedroom with a double bed and another TV, and even a bathroom with a shower. It used to come with a personal butler.

The Apartment (Airbus A380 only)

These are First Class suites on the Airbus A380. There are nine of them, each about 39 square feet. Each apartment has a wide reclining chair, an ottoman that turns into a bed, a TV, a vanity cabinet, and a mini-bar. In 2015, this class was named the world's best first class.

First Suite (Boeing 787–9 only)

Some Boeing 787-9 planes have eight First Suites. These include a wide reclining lounge chair that turns into a fully flat bed, a dining table, and a TV. They also have a personal wardrobe and sliding doors for privacy.

Business Studio

The "Business Studio" is available on both the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 planes. These seats are wide and turn into a fully flat bed. Each studio has a TV screen. The seats are arranged so that every passenger has direct access to the aisle.

Economy Smart Seat

Economy Smart seats are found on both Boeing 787s and Airbus A380s. They offer comfortable seating with a good amount of space and recline. Each seat has an 11-inch touch screen for entertainment.

In-flight Entertainment

Etihad uses advanced entertainment systems on its newer long-range planes. These systems offer movies, TV shows, and music on demand. They also provide broadband internet and live TV on some flights.

In April 2019, Etihad announced that it would remove seat-back screens from the economy section of 23 of its smaller Airbus A320 and A321 planes. These planes are used for flights up to 5 hours long.

Atlas is the official magazine you can read on Etihad flights.

Loyalty Program

Etihad Guest is Etihad's program for frequent flyers, launched in August 2006. Members can earn points that can be used for discounts in an online shop, or for benefits like extra baggage and faster check-in. Points can also be used to get free tickets or upgrade your seat class.

Senior citizens from the UAE can get special access to the Etihad Guest program. They receive perks like more air miles, discounted tickets, and priority check-in. Etihad also has partnerships with other airlines' loyalty programs, like American Airlines' AAdvantage and Scandinavian Airlines' Eurobonus.

In 2019, Etihad Guest members also started earning miles when they book hotels through booking.com.

Accidents and Incidents

As of 2024, Etihad Airways has not had any fatal accidents during its passenger flights.

• On November 15, 2007, a new A340-600 plane, meant for Etihad Airways, was badly damaged during ground tests at Airbus's facility in France. During an engine test, safety systems were turned off. The plane moved forward at 31 knots (57 km/h) and crashed into a concrete wall. Nine people on board were injured, four seriously. The plane was damaged beyond repair.

See also

In Spanish: Etihad Airways para niños

• Abu Dhabi International Airport
• List of airlines of the United Arab Emirates
• List of airports in the United Arab Emirates
• Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company, owner of Etihad since 2023

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