Etihad continues to set new standards

Abu Dhabi : The Chief Executive of Abu Dhabi's flagship carrier Etihad Airways said yesterday the airline is continuing to "set new standards" as it celebrates its seventh anniversary today amid a backdrop of security concerns and fraught tensions over the issue of export credit.

James Hogan said Etihad is set to double in size over the next decade as it continues its rapid expansion as the world's fastest growing airline. The carrier, which was established by Emiri Decree in July 2003, currently operates over 1,000 flights per week from the capital and serves 66 destinations in 43 countries.

Hogan said: "The mandate I was given was to create an airline that was best-in-class, an airline that was safe and an airline that supports the aspirations of Abu Dhabi and the 2030 Plan. There are always issues and opportunities [in this industry] such as competition, which is why we have to be innovative and focus on the customer as well as continuing our work with Abu Dhabi. As I look forward to the next three years, the opportunities for both Etihad Airways and Abu Dhabi as a destination are very exciting. In Abu Dhabi, we are at the crossroads of the world."

In seven years, Etihad has flown over 26 million passengers on more than 180,000 flights to destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Australia, Europe, North America, and Asia. Over the same period the airline's fleet has grown to 57 aircraft in 2010.

Centre of a storm

The airline recently found itself at the centre of a storm surrounding the issue of export credit after several competitors, including Qantas, Air France-KLM and Lufthansa, expressed concerns over price fixing and the encroachment of Gulf carriers into Europe.

Hogan said: "We've recently had the Europeans challenge the Gulf carriers on the issue of export credit and financing. We believe that is not an issue for Gulf carriers, it is an issue for European governments and if they want to give their airlines access to that type of capital and credit, they should.

"The issue with the Eur-opean airlines is they believe it is unfair that non-European carriers get access to export credit. That is an issue for their governments and if they wish to change the rules then so be it. I think is a bit of a smoke screen by some of the European airlines as Gulf carriers are not getting preferred status; export credit is available to all non-European carriers."

"What concerns me more is that this may be used as an issue to block our expansion and that is not good for the customer. We will work through it and at the end of the day I think it is more of a European domestic issue and we are being caught up in it."

Vigilant

Hogan also said one of his first priorities was running a safe airline and that there was a need to remain vigilant following the discovery of parcel bombs last week on cargo planes in Dubai and the UK.

Hogan said: "One of my first priorities is running a safe airline and we work very closely with the authorities and intelligence agencies to ensure that we are vigilant. At certain times throughout the year if we believe there is a risk we will enhance our security."

"We are also working closely with our cargo facility, we are not taking cargo at the moment from Yemen or Somalia. In the outstations, we ensure the cargo is screened. We will not leave anything to risk; if we need to break down palettes then we will."

SEVEN YEARS OF GROWTH