Abu Dhabi: Etihad Aviation Group on Saturday unveiled its Year of Zayed initiatives to be launched throughout 2018.
The initiatives are based on four Year of Zayed themes, which are wisdom, respect, sustainability, and human development. The company’s initiatives are a humanitarian freighter, Zayed A380 and Abu Dhabi Experience, Abu Dhabi Birdathon, and Zayed Campus and Young Aviators.
Tony Douglas, group CEO of Etihad Aviation Group, said: “More than half a century ago, Shaikh Zayed envisioned Abu Dhabi having a world class aviation industry and infrastructure that is on par with the major cities of the world. Etihad Aviation Group is especially honoured, on the occasion of the one hundred years since the birth of Shaikh Zayed, to pay a tribute to his vision by promoting the values he embodied, and showcasing the impact he has had on the UAE as a whole, and in the aviation industry in particular.”
Under the theme of respect, Etihad Airways will launch a specially-branded freighter aircraft that will conduct humanitarian flights for charitable organisations throughout 2018. The first humanitarian freighter mission will take off in May. Etihad Airways will partner with Emirates Red Crescent, Khalifa Foundation, and His Highness Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Humanitarian & Scientific Foundation to conduct these philanthropic missions across the globe.
To celebrate this vision and wisdom amongst the global audience, guests travelling on a specific A380 Etihad Airways aircraft will enjoy a host of content and services inspired by the late Shaikh Zayed, including themed inflight entertainment, kids’ packs and a photo gallery of his life.
Another initiative will be the launch of an Abu Dhabi cultural experience. During the course of 2018, Etihad Airways will fly-in 1,000 guests from around the world to experience the capital’s vibrant culture scene, including visits to the Founder’s Memorial, Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Wahat al Karama, and Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Combining the themes of flying and sustainability, Etihad Airways and the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) will host the Abu Dhabi Birdathon, a community event featuring the greater flamingos. Several tagged flamingos, each one nominated to an Abu Dhabi partner entity, will be tracked online as they fly off during the breeding season at the end of the year. This initiative aims to drive awareness of environmental conservation, which Shaikh Zayed was passionate about.
The final component of Etihad’s Year of Zayed campaign, focusing on human development, has two elements. Etihad will dedicate its training facility buildings to Shaikh Zayed. The Etihad Training Academy building adjacent to the corporate headquarters will be renamed Zayed Campus - Abu Dhabi, and the Etihad Aviation Training facility in Al Ain will become Zayed Campus - Al Ain.
In addition, Etihad will launch the Young Aviators programme for school children in the UAE. This initiative, which aims to inspire children, will involve guided tours of the Etihad headquarters and Training Academy in Abu Dhabi, including sessions in the full flight simulators.
