(MENAFN - Arab News) Etihad Airways President and Chief Executive Officer James Hogan visited Thailand to meet with officials, business partners, media and the airline's Bangkok team to discuss the airline's operations and growth plans.
During the visit, Hogan hosted leading members of the Thai community and trade and industry partners, at a reception ahead of the airline's eighth anniversary of Thai operations, and to reaffirm Etihad Airways' commitment to the important Thailand market.
Hogan said: "I am delighted to be in Bangkok, and to see for myself the continuing growth in the Thai market in spite of the challenges of last year, which is enabling us to launch our third daily service on the Abu Dhabi-Bangkok route with a Boeing 777-300ER from April 15. The past year has been a hugely successful one for Etihad Airways, with excellent financial results, and the announcement of game-changing investments in airberlin and Air Seychelles marking a major step forward in our partnership strategy.
Hogan added: "We have already seen strong interest in airberlin's Abu Dhabi-Phuket flight, and are pleased at the positive contribution these flights will make to tourist arrivals. At the same time, our codeshare partnerships with Bangkok Airways and Vietnam Airlines, two of the leading carriers in the region, are offering travellers a range of outstanding choices."
In addition to supporting tourism growth in Thailand through growing its own services and its codeshare arrangements, Etihad Airways is also contributing through its "Amazing Thailand Program", in cooperation with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, offering a range of special deals and promotions through Etihad Holidays, including great packages, upgrades and offers for vacations in Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Samui, strongly encouraging travel to Thailand from not only the UAE, but also the GCC countries, and the whole of the Middle East.
