Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways (Arabic: الإتحاد‎, ʼal-ʻitiħād) is the national airline of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Etihad means "union" in Arabic, the name deriving from the Arabic for United Arab Emirates (الإمارات العربية المتحدة). Established in 2003, Etihad commenced operation on November later that year.[2]

The airline operates close to 147 daily flights to 64 destinations in 42 countries,[2] via a fleet of 57 aircraft. Its operation is heavily centered in Europe and Asia, as well as Oceania, Africa and North America. Its main base is Abu Dhabi International Airport,[3] with its head office in Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi. In 2009, it carried more than seven million passengers, compared with 340,000 in its first full year of operations in 2004. Apart from its core activity of passenger transportation, Etihad also earns revenue from its cargo operation, Etihad Crystal Cargo.