From LA to Doha to Boston, airline parties need a pop star

As Etihad celebrated its LA route launch with a Beverly Hills gala, we look at how airlines have been throwing a party this year.

In March, Dubai carrier Emirates Airline celebrated its arrival in Boston with a performance by Enrique Iglesias at the historic Wang Theater. Courtesy Emirates Airline

Airlines are a glamour business, especially in the Arabian Gulf states. And when airlines throw a party, they like to have a glitzy celeb on hand. Here we take a look at three notable such instances this year, and if it shows one thing, it’s that stars are sometimes apt to mangle names.

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Etihad Airways pulled out all the stops to celebrate in true Hollywood style at its launch party to celebrate the airline's first direct flights to Los Angeles last night.

Guests arriving in chauffeur driven Mercedes in Beverly Hills were welcomed to the grand Beverly House – once the home of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, the original Citizen Kane – and a filming location used in The Godfather.

A sit down three-course dinner for 300 guests in the ornate gardens was hosted by the singer and TV star Dannii Minogue while musical accompaniment came from the jazz musician Harry Connick Jr and his band.

And in true LA style big name stars were among the guests with Michael Jackson’s record producer Quincy Jones and astronaut Buzz Aldrin also spotted.

As part of the entertainment, images of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Abu Dhabi skyline were beamed onto the front of the historic house, while Etihad cabin crew served traditional Arabic coffee and dates and guests watched traditional Razafat dancing.

"Tonight's event is about the fact that we've arrived," the Etihad president and chief executive James Hogan told The National. "It's about saying we come from an exciting city called Abu Dhabi. We're one of the world's best airlines if not the best. And what you see tonight is all about reflecting our brand and Abu Dhabi as a brand."

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It’s fairly well-known that nothing can grab the attention of a journalist on a tight deadline. But when a gigantic cake entered the press room at the International Aviation and Travel Association (Iata) during its annual gathering last week in Doha, journalists couldn’t help but chase it.

As the host of the get-together, Qatar Airways decided to woow the guests, perhaps because it was the travel association 70th birthday, the CEO of Qatar Airways decided to match the age of the association with an enormous cake.

“There’s no birthday without a cake,” the Qatar Airways chief, Akbar Al Baker, said and he took out a sword to cut the cake. Just like at a wedding, Mr Al Baker and Tony Tyler, the chief of Iata, were holding the sword together to cut the cake.

But what really took the cake was the night’s entertainment. At dinner, everyone was surprised to see Kylie Minogue – Dannii’s older sister – taking the stage to entertain the guests. Despite being hefty paid, the Australian singer unfortunately couldn’t get Akbar Al Baker’s name right. She struggled to pronounce his second name.

Yet after her performance, he was generous enough to give her a birthday gift on stage…leaving everyone in the room guessing what’s inside? A piece of jewelry? Perhaps. Or maybe a slice of leftover cake.

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Spare a thought for Emirates Airline president Sir Tim Clark.

Not only did the airline Mr Clark presides over spend an estimated Dh12 million on marketing promoting its new direct route to Boston in March but it even booked best selling artist Enrique Iglesias to sing at an extravagant gala dinner for staff and special guests.

So you would have thought staff in Boston knew who Tim Clark was.

You would have been wrong.

When the heart throb crooner picked a member of ground staff from Logan Airport to sing on the stage with him, he asked her if her boss was in the building tonight.

“Nope,” said the lady in question. “It’s just me.”

“Okay,” Enrique persisted. “Is the overall Emirates boss here tonight?”

The lights came up, spotlighting Mr Clark’s table to show Sir Tim and his guests including Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick waving.

The lady nodded.

“What’s his name?” Enrique asked the grinning lady.

“Erm,” she said uncertainly. “I think it’s Jim.”

Cue much hilarity in the crowd which eventually prompted Enrique, in the middle of his smash hit Hero to announce “It’s Tim not Jim.”

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