Time travel

Etihad Airways celebrates 20 years in the sky Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Launched in 2003, following a royal decree issued by the future President, Sheikh Khalifa, its first destination from its home in Abu Dhabi was Beirut.

From the start the carrier raised the bar for luxury travel. Its cabins are synonymous with opulence with smart seats, complimentary food and drink, and on-demand entertainment.

Within a year it had launched its first flights to London. In 2005, its Toronto flights marked its initial expansion into North America and in 2007 came the first flight to Sydney, Australia.

Its profile was raised further in 2009 as it became the official sponsor of Manchester City, and two years later the club’s home ground was renamed The Etihad Stadium.

In 2014 Etihad’s first A380s arrived, boasting the legendary The Residence, the world’s only three-room suite in the sky featuring a dedicated bedroom, bathroom and living room.

The following year it took delivery of its first 787 Dreamliner, and since then, Etihad has invested billions in equipping its fleet with fuel-efficient, next-generation aircraft for its long-haul services.

A year later, the Etihad Arena opened on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, and the Middle East’s largest outdoor venue was renamed Etihad Park.

Now, two decades on from its first flight, Etihad Airways has built a global network covering more than 70 destinations. This year it added over 10 new destinations and it’s not stopping there.

Its new home, Terminal A in Abu Dhabi, opened this year, integrating state-ofthe-art technology with self-service kiosks for a completely digitalised journey as well as 34 e-gates with passport and eye scanners.

With its new hub, it has even more ambitious plans, growing its network, doubling its fleet, and trebling the number of guests it carries by 2030.

etihad.com