Etihad Airways will host a series of events and activities to showcase its approach to innovation in technology and sustainability during the UAE Innovation Week.

Etihad Airways' innovation centre in Abu Dhabi is hosting government entities who will have an opportunity to explore lifelike mock-ups of the airline's Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft cabins.

James Hogan the airline's president and chief executive officer (CEO) led a tour of the innovation centre on Monday. He welcomed Shaikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan chairman of the transport department and member of the Executive Council Abu Dhabi; Major General Mohammed Khalfan Al Romaithi deputy commander-in-chief of Abu Dhabi Police and member of the Executive Council; and Saeed Saif Al Neyadi general manager of Abu Dhabi Monitoring and Control Centre.

Members of Etihad Airways' executive team were also present to receive the delegation.

Etihad Airways has invested billions of dollars in technology and innovation to transform its operations and businesses leveraging technology platforms digital capability and supplier partnerships across its equity partner airlines to achieve economies of skill and scale.

Etihad Airways collaborates with technology companies such as Accenture Adobe IBM SAP and Sabre to enhance the group's guest experience using a cloud-based infrastructure.

The innovation centre is a research centre where ideas are brought to life. It is also home to Etihad Airways' training academy which comprises the largest A380 and B787 cabin service and safety trainers in the world.

Guests touring the product innovation and themed rooms of the facility until Wednesday will be able to better understand how the inspiration for the airline's products and services was brought to life in partnership with the Etihad Design Consortium.

Hogan said: "In a competitive market environment such as aviation a sustained innovation process is fundamental to providing the best possible products and services to our guests now and into the future. In seeking new ideas and challenging the standards we benchmark ourselves outside the airline sector to take inspiration from global best practice of leaders within the hospitality industry."

The innovation centre tour also showcases developments in the airline's information technology services which include the cabin crew tablet application 'iKnow' and the benefits it brings to both crew and guests. In addition it features applications developed for pilots technical staff and those used for disruption support.

"We leverage the capabilities available through emerging technology whether in the design of new generation aircraft and interiors or the creation of digital solutions that allow our service to be more efficient and customised when looking after our guests" Hogan said.

An interactive display of the Panasonic eX3 inflight entertainment system provides a demonstration of features such as video sharing shopping and hospitality apps 3D moving map display and Android games.

-