AGC Etihad Partnership

The AGC is delighted to introduce Etihad Airways as the AGC 2012 Principal Corporate Partner and 2012 Business Mission Partner. The Partnership was launched in November 2011 at the AGC Inaugural Annual Dinner with Guest of Honour, Honourable Dr Craig Emerson MP, Minister for Trade, held at Parliament House, Canberra, Australia. Commenting about the Partnership, Chief Executive of the AGC, Michael Yabsley said, “The AGC Etihad Corporate Partnership is a great outcome and we look forward to seeing it develop in a way that will add real value for both Etihad Airways and the AGC. James Hogan’s and Lindsay White’s leadership and vision have ensured the beginning of a prosperous partnership between our two organisations. Partnerships such as these create friends and business opportunities and, in the words of Minister Emerson, ‘we do business, where we have friends.’”

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, based in its capital, Abu Dhabi, made its first commercial flight in November 2003. Since then, the airline has grown faster than any other in commercial aviation history, currently serving 83 destinations in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and North America with a young and environmentally-efficient fleet of 66 aircraft. Etihad offers the highest tandards of service and comfort on the ground and in the air with world-class cuisine, award winning flat-beds in its premium cabins and the widest seats in economy, as well as more than 600 hours of on-demand in-flight entertainment. Its product and service portfolio has earned global acknowledgement and numerous awards including recognition as the world’s leading airline at the World Travel Awards for three consecutive years.

Aligned with the Emirate of Abu Dhabi’s 2030 Plan, the airline plays a definitive role in the economic development of the emirate, in 2011, contributing USD 6.821 billion (9.6 per cent) of Abu Dhabi’s non-oil GDP (3.8 per cent of total GDP) in 2011, and supporting a total of 103,000 non-oil jobs throughout the Emirate. International sports sponsorship plays a central role in Etihad’s global marketing strategy, as it seeks to develop its profile in markets across the world. Major international sponsorship deals include Manchester City Football Club, Etihad Stadium, Harlequins Rugby Football Club and the All Irish Hurling Championships. Etihad is the title sponsor of the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Etihad Airways has set its sights on flying 25 million passengers a year to at least 100 destinations by 2020.