Etihad Airways named Airline of the Year at Arabian Business Awards

Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, has been named Airline of the Year by Arabian Business magazine.

Judges said the award was made in recognition of Etihad Airways’ financial performance and service offering, as well as the remarkable speed of its expansion.

Etihad Airways Chief Executive Officer James Hogan said: “We are delighted to have been named Airline of the Year by Arabian Business. 2011 has been an exciting year for Etihad Airways. Not only have we launched seven new routes – Chengdu, Nairobi, the Seychelles, the Maldives, Bangalore, Dusseldorf and Shanghai – but we have also increased frequencies across our network and we remain on track to break even.

“In 2012, we will continue to grow and announce new destinations as we introduce  innovations such as onboard internet connectivity for all passengers. Etihad Airways is proud to carry the flag of the United Arab Emirates as it celebrates its 40^th anniversary.”

Walid Akawi, CEO of Arabian Business publisher ITP, said: “Etihad Airways has had a truly remarkable year and is on track to break even. The scale of its expansion, the highly commended customer service and, most of all, an excellent financial performance made it a clear winner in this category.”

The announcement was made at a ceremony at the Armani hotel in Dubai.