Etihad Airways CEO lands in D.C. for U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council ...

This Wednesday, the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council hosted a luncheon honoring Etihad Airways' president and chief executive officer James Hogan at the W Hotel in Washington, D.C. to highlight the March 2013 route opening.

The highly-attended event attracted senior government officials including diplomatic representatives from the U.A.E. Embassy in Washington, D.C. and other Arab embassies, executives representing American and Emirati businesses, media reporters, and stakeholders in the U.S.-U.A.E. commercial aviation relationship.

Danny Sebright, President of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, highlights the important role commercial aviation plays in the overall U.S.-U.A.E. commercial relationship.

Danny Sebright, president of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council provided welcome remarks and underscored the importance of understanding opportunities to form corporate partnerships with and benefit from the U.A.E.'s rapidly expanding commercial aviation sector. In his remarks, Sebright applauded Etihad Airways and James Hogan personally for his successful and ongoing efforts to raise the global profile of the airline and the U.A.E.'s stance as a global transit point.

"Under Mr. Hogan's leadership, Etihad Airways and its reputation has grown exponentially; helping to connect Abu Dhabi to key global markets like D.C. while supporting economic development in Abu Dhabi and around the world," said Sebright. "Since the airline was founded less than a decade ago, Etihad Airways has served as a key customer of American-made aircraft and airplane parts, and is helping to create and sustain American jobs across the commercial aviation supply chain. Further, the D.C. flight launch will mark Etihad Airways' third non-stop destination in the U.S. and will serve to directly enhance social and commercial ties between the U.S. and U.A.E."

Following his comments, Sebright introduced Hogan to present a short video about Etihad Airways and deliver his keynote remarks. During his speech, Hogan detailed Etihad Airways' increasingly globalized corporate profile, emphasized the significance of the U.S. market to the airline's overall expansion strategy, and noted the strength of its partnerships, particularly with American commercial aviation companies such as Boeing and Sabre.

James Hogan, President & CEO of Etihad Airways, discusses the importance of partnership with U.S. and other global markets to Etihad Airway's global expansion plan.

Addressing the largely D.C.-based audience, Hogan spoke to the airline's new model of navigating the limitations of the global aviation sector: partnerships. Etihad Airways has codeshares in place with 41 partners, expanding its network of destinations to 327 major cities, and the Abu-Dhabi based airline also holds equity stakes in airberlin, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia and Aer Lingus.

"Our equity stakes are not about seeking control; they are about cementing partnership - partnership that will deliver growth in a constrained and challenged global landscape. They are about us putting skin in the game, betting on the success of our commercial relationships. This year, those partnerships will deliver something in the region of 20 per cent of our total revenues.

"So, in our new model, we have taken what we believe is the smart approach to work around the limitations of the global aviation sector. Partnership allows us to work with airlines around the world, extending our reach and our network to become a truly global carrier. Partnership allows us to cooperate with companies such as American Airlines, to offer our passengers - and theirs - new choices across the globe."

Following Hogan's speech, Sebright rejoined him at the podium to moderate an on-the-record question and answer session. During the session, audience members and reporters were provided with an opportunity to engage Etihad Airways' CEO directly and Hogan took several questions focused around the airline's corporate structure, the U.A.E.'s recent emergence as a key player in the global commercial aviation sector, and the launch of Etihad Airways' flights into Dulles in March.

Etihad Airways' direct flight to Dulles, announced in February of this year, will officially launch on March 31, 2013.

Source: http://www.ameinfo.com/etihad-airways-ceo-lands-dc-us-uae-319069

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