Etihad Airways celebrates 10 years in Canada

“Our mission has never been to be the biggest airline in the world, but to be the very best airline in the world,” Martin Drew, senior vice-president – the Americas, Etihad Airways, told a supportive gathering of agency, airline and corporate partners at Etihad’s 10th anniversary celebration last night.

Marking 10 years of service to Canada as of Oct. 31, 2005, Etihad marked the historic milestone with a VIP reception attended by more than 100 industry professionals at the Four Seasons in Toronto.

Drew attributed the airline’s success, which has carried more than 880,000 passengers on its Toronto route since service first commenced, not only to its award-winning luxury product and “unmatched, level of attention to detail and service,” but also its Canadian travel partners for supporting the airline’s growth and development.

“At Etihad Airways,” he said in a brief address at the top of the evening, “we actively pursue partnerships and opportunities to strengthen our base here in Canada… With approximately 200 Canadian companies and more than 42,000 Canadian nationals in the UAE, these businesses and residents look to Etihad Airways to provide safe, world-class and trusted service.”

Etihad currently offers non-stop flights to Abu Dhabi from Toronto three times per week, and enjoys a partnership with Air Canada, which launched in 2013 following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance travel services by the two airlines.

In a recent effort to promote Abu Dhabi as a stopover destination for Canadian passengers, the destination management division of Etihad Airways also recently signed an agreement with Indus Travel that provides guests with exclusive privileges such as overnight accommodation and golf course access before continuing to their final destination.

According to Craig Thomas, general manager – Canada, Etihad Airways, the airline’s strategic partnerships are what enables Etihad to gain an increased foothold in the Canadian market.

“Canada is important to us for a number of reasons,” Craig Thomas, told PAX in a one-on-one interview. “It’s a key feeder into our Abu Dhabi hub, which benefits from ever-expanding roots into the Middle East and Indian subcontinent.”

“We’re very proud of our home base in Abu Dhabi,” he continued, “and we constantly remind agents that the country’s proximity to Dubai lends itself as being an ideal gateway to Dubai – not only as a destination but to experience the two in tandem.”

Thomas went on to explain that part of what makes Etihad so successful in Canada is the availability of its luxurious product offerings at various price points, citing the airline’s new Fare Choices option, launched on Sept. 14, 2015, which offers guests the ability to pick and choose what services they want to pay for, giving them the power to make more decisive choices in how they fly.

Among the esteemed guests in attendance was United Arab Emirates ambassador to Canada Mohammed Saif Helal Al Shehhi, who also emphasized the importance of the airline’s role in connecting Canada to the UAE.

“It’s important to state that [Etihad’s] flights to Canada open yet another door of opportunity to further supporting Canada-UAE trade, including tourism, business, culture, the exchange of our students, and linking people between the two countries,” he said.

Etihad currently employs 179 Canadians, including 18 employees based in its Toronto office. Its outbound flight from Toronto departs YYZ on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 3:00 p.m., arriving at Abu Dhabi for 12:05 p.m. the following day.

PHOTO: With Etihad Airways cabin crew, from left: Craig Thomas, general manager – Canada, Etihad Airways; United Arab Emirates Ambassador Mohammed Saif Helal Al Shehhi; Sultan Ali al-Harbi, Consul General of the United Arab Emirates Embassy; Martin Drew, senior vice-president – the Americas, Etihad Airways