Etihad Airways creates presence in Washington

Public affairs post will support the airline's growing presence in the US.

Etihad Airways has created a new public affairs post in Washington to help the Abu Dhabi carrier shore up political support in the US capital for its growing presence in America.

Opposition within the US aviation industry against foreign competition has hardened in recent weeks with a Norwegian carrier coming under fire for operating transatlantic flights out of Ireland. On Monday, America’s largest pilot union urged the US government to block Norwegian Air’s attempts to fly the route, warning that the budget airline is trying to avoid safety and labour regulations.

Earlier this year there were also some complaints from US carriers and labour groups about the preclearance facility set up at Abu Dhabi International Airport giving Middle East airlines a competitive advantage over domestic operators.

However, the US plane maker Boeing counts Gulf airlines among its biggest customers and both Etihad and Qatar Airways have tie-ups with American Airlines.

Matthew Jennings, the former head of legislative affairs for the International Air Transport Association (Iata) will take on the newly-created role of senior manager of the public affairs post, based in Washington, “to engage with key stakeholders, including US policymakers, about Etihad Airways and the benefits the carrier’s growing presence brings to the US economy and American consumers”.

While at Iata, Mr Jennings led a campaign opposing the European Union’s emissions trading scheme.

“We continue to build awareness and understanding within the US about Etihad Airways’ many contributions to US economic growth and the support of American businesses, [Mr Jennings] will play a critical role in strengthening Etihad’s presence and partnerships within the aviation and business sectors – all with an eye toward creating more jobs for Americans and further encouraging travel, trade and tourism to and from the US”, said Vijay Poonoosamy, vice president of international and public affairs at Etihad.

In June, Etihad launched an Abu Dhabi to Los Angeles service and flights to San Francisco and Dallas-Fort Worth are scheduled to start later in the year.

Etihad also flies to Washington Dulles, Chicago O’Hare and New York JFK airports.

Etihad’s growth strategy has relied heavily on expanding its route network through “equity alliances”, in which it invests in carriers that help it to expand its global reach in strategically important regions.

Last year Etihad grew its equity alliance to seven, comprising Air Seychelles, Air Berlin, Virgin Australia, Air Serbia, Ireland’s Aer Lingus, India’s Jet Airways and Etihad Regional – formerly known as Darwin Airline. This month it added debt-laden Italian carrier Alitalia to its equity alliance after taking a 49 per cent stake for €560 million (Dh2.74 billion).

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