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The iconic Etihad Airways Formula 1TM liveried A320 aircraft on the runway at Ataturk airport in Istanbul

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has launched flights to Istanbul, the commercial capital of Turkey.

The inaugural flight EY097 departed from Abu Dhabi airport on schedule at 9.15am on Monday 1 June and landed in Istanbul at 12.50pm, the same day.

To mark this weekend?s Formula 1TM ING Turkish Grand Prix, and the inaugural Formula 1TM Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which takes place on 1 November, Etihad operated its iconic Formula 1TM liveried A320 aircraft on the maiden flight to Istanbul.

A high level Turkish delegation met the plane as it arrived at the Istanbul Ataturk airport which included UAE Ambassador to Turkey, H.E. Khalid Khalifa Al Mualla; Istanbul Ataturk airport chief, Mehmet Ali Uluta? and Turkish Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, ?smet Y?lmaz.

The group then welcomed the Etihad delegation which included Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways? chief commercial officer, and Turkish Ambassador to UAE, H.E. Hakk? Akil.

Peter Baumgartner said: ?We are delighted to launch flights from Abu Dhabi to Istanbul, where we have received such a warm welcome. Not only will the route provide a boost to tourism in the UAE and Turkey, but it will also support the growing commercial ties between the two countries.?

Turkey is one of the UAE?s largest trade partners, with USD $9 billion in annual bilateral trade volume generating strong economic relations and sound business opportunities for both countries.

Last year saw foreign trade figures reveal Turkey as one of the UAE?s top 10 biggest suppliers, while over the past five years (2004-2008) the UAE?s exports to Turkey have increased six-fold.

The new route has not only be welcomed by the 6,000 Turkish expatriates currently living and working in the UAE, but will also provide convenient onward connections to some of the well-established Turkish communities served by Etihad?s global network ? in particular, Sydney and Melbourne.

Etihad operates a two-class Airbus A320 to Istanbul, configured to carry 140 passengers with 20 seats in business class and 120 in economy class.

(left to right) UAE Ambassador of Turkey H.E. Khalid Khalifa Al Mualla, Airport Mayor Mehmet Ali Uluta?, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism ?smet Y?lmaz, Mr. Peter Baumgartner, Turkish Ambassador of UAE H.E. Hakk? Akil.

Delta-Northwest Merger Brings Service Enhancements to International Flights

Customers in economy class receive complimentary beer, wine, upgraded breakfast
BusinessElite customers enjoy entrees from celebrity chef, wine selections from master sommelier

Customers traveling Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) on international flights now enjoy the same in-flight experience on both Delta and its subsidiary, Northwest Airlines ? the latest sign that Delta and Northwest are now one.

As part of its $500 million investment to integrate the two airlines, Delta this month is standardizing its international offerings available on all long-haul aircraft featuring a BusinessElite cabin (the former ?World Business Class? on Northwest aircraft).

For travelers flying in the international economy cabin, that means complimentary beer and wine throughout flights operated by Delta and Northwest. Spirits, including Delta?s signature cocktails by Rande Gerber, also are available for $7 each. Additionally, on flights longer than 3,800 miles customers in the economy cabin receive an upgraded hot breakfast.

BusinessElite customers on both Delta- and Northwest-operated flights enjoy signature selections created by Delta?s celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein, whose June menu includes Roasted Chicken ? l?Orange and Ricotta and Basil Fettuccine. A selection of wines chosen especially for Delta by master sommelier Andrea Robinson also is featured.. Other amenities BusinessElite customers already enjoy include an oversized pillow and duvet.

?June marks another major milestone in our merger with Northwest as we introduce high-quality products on board Delta and Northwest aircraft operating internationally,? said Joanne Smith, senior vice president of In-Flight Service. ?We continue to bring together the best of both airlines to create one best-in-class experience for customers traveling with us worldwide.?

In late March, Delta combined products for customers traveling on all Delta- and Northwest-operated domestic flights to include expanded first and economy class food offerings, Rande Gerber signature cocktails, in-flight entertainment, and the new Sky in-flight magazine, which was introduced on April 1.

Delta continues its progress to achieve a single operating certificate by the end of the year.
In addition to upgrading its onboard product and services, Delta has added four routes in June to further strengthen its presence in Asia. Newly added routes are Shanghai-Detroit nonstop service; Tokyo-Narita to New York-JFK, Tokyo-Narita to Salt Lake City, and Tokyo-Narita to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam*.

* For Tokyo-Narita to Ho Chi Minh City route, no stopovers or local traffic permitted at NRT.

Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and flight status at delta.com.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has launched its inaugural flight from Abu Dhabi to the Greek capital, Athens.
Flight EY091 took off from Abu Dhabi airport at 9.15am on Tuesday 2 June and landed at Eleftherios Venizelos airport in Athens at 1.05pm the same day.
A high level delegation attended the launch which included the Greek Ambassador to the UAE, His Excellency Dionyssios Zois; the UAE Ambassador to Greece, His Excellency, Abdelhadi Alkajah; Mr. Yiannis Paraschis, chief executive of Athens Airport Authority; Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jabber, CEO of Masdar as well as representatives from Etihad Airways? senior management team.
Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways? chief commercial officer, said: ?Abu Dhabi to Athens is Etihad?s twelfth European destination and links two leading global capitals. It will also provide a welcomed service for Greek communities worldwide, particularly in Melbourne and Sydney.?
The Athens capital is now served, three times a week from Abu Dhabi, with the airline using an Airbus A320 aircraft. The flights will be increased to five services a week from October 2009 and then daily from the start of 2010.
The new service departs Abu Dhabi at 9:15am and arrives in Athens at 1:05pm local time, on the same day. Return flight departs Athens at 2:30pm, arriving in Abu Dhabi at 8:00pm local time on the same day.
Athens is the airline?s 53rd destination across its expanding global flight network. The start of the new service follows the launch by Etihad in March 2009 of flights to Melbourne, Australia. Flights to Istanbul in Turkey started on Monday 1 June.
Photo caption: (left to right) Dimitris Karagioules, Etihad Airways? country manager for Greece; Dr. Sultan Ahmed Sultan Al Jaber, CEO Masdar; H.E. Abdelhadi Alkajah, UAE Ambassador to Greece; Ioannis Paraschis, Athens International Airport CEO; Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways? chief commercial officer.

Etihad Airways, the Abu Dhabi-based national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has signed a three-year deal to be the official shirt sponsor and partner of Premier League side, Manchester City FC. The Etihad Airways brand logo will appear on Manchester City shirts from the summer.

The partnership is initially for three years and was announced today at the City of Manchester Stadium by Etihad Airways? Chief Executive, James Hogan, Manchester City FC Chief Executive Garry Cook and Sir Howard Bernstein, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council.

The airline was launched in 2003 and now flies to more than 50 cities around the world. It started daily flights to Manchester in 2006 and last year it carried six million passengers on its international network.

Mr Hogan said: ?This new partnership marks the beginning of what we hope will become a strong and lasting relationship between Manchester City and Etihad Airways. Our home-base is Abu Dhabi and therefore we have a strong bond already with the Club and its owners and we look forward to building on this in the months and years to come.?

The airline and Club will also work together on several overseas projects including team tours to the UAE and South Africa, as well as community-based schemes in the United Arab Emirates and East Manchester.

Mr Hogan added, ?Etihad Airways and Manchester City both have a strong sense of community and we will work together on building ties between Abu Dhabi and Manchester, especially with youngsters through our highly successful soccer school programmes.?

As well as appearing on the world-famous sky blue shirt, the deal will see the Etihad Airways? logo and branding at the City of Manchester Stadium, as well as on the Club website (www.mcfc.co.uk ) and match day programme and merchandise.

Commenting on the deal, Garry Cook added: ?Manchester City Football Club is delighted to announce this partnership with Etihad Airways and join its stable of associations of the highest calibre, including the Formula 1? Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the Ferrari Formula 1? team.

?These are exciting times at Manchester City as we look to build a world-class team and sustainable success on and off the field. This partnership will play an integral role in our strategy.?

Sir Howard Bernstein, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, said: "The Abu Dhabi partnership with the city is hugely important and one which will bring significant benefits to everyone associated with Manchester. We welcome the announcement about Etihad Airways, which reinforces the links with Abu Dhabi and Manchester, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Club and Abu Dhabi to strengthen our wider partnerships going forward."

The first occasion the Manchester City shirt , bearing the Etihad Airways logo, will be shown to the world will be on Saturday 18 July when City take on the Orlando Pirates in Cape Town in the first game of their pre-season tour to South Africa.

Etihad Airways has built up an impressive portfolio of international sponsorship partners which includes the Formula 1? Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Ferrari Formula 1? team, Harlequins Rugby Football Club, the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championships, the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne.

Photo Caption: Etihad Airways cabin crew with (left to right) Sir Howard Bernstein, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council; Mark Hughes, Manchester City FC Manager; Manchester City FC Chief Executive Garry Cook and Etihad Airways? Chief Executive, James Hogan.

From the A300 to today, Airbus' global leadership is driven by constant innovation

Airbus celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Franco-German agreement which launched its first ever aircraft programme, the A300. On May 29, 1969, the French Minister of Transport, Jean Chamant and the German Minister of Economic Affairs, Karl Schiller, signed an agreement for the joint-development of the A300 aircraft, a first European twin-aisle twin-engine jet for medium-haul air travel. This historic event took place during the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget.

The launch of the A300 programme marked the first milestone in Airbus? successful history and set the foundation of its today?s vision and strategy. Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO reminds: ?40 years ago ? in May 1969 - the commercial jet aircraft market was entirely dominated by the US industry. Giving the go-ahead for the A300 was a bold strategic decision. The pioneering spirit of our engineers as well as Airbus? continuous strive for innovation and international cooperation have made us a global market leader and at the same time a symbol for successful European cooperation. ?New standards. Together? - this is our guiding principle and from now on our new tagline that will keep us ahead?.

The A300 revolutionized the civil aviation sector. Dubbed ?the profit machine? the A300 was the first twin-aisle twin-engine short/medium haul aircraft, which offered for the first time all the amenities and assets of long range aircraft such as a wide-body comfort, low noise levels, low fuel consumption and low operating costs. Based on the successful idea, Airbus developed its first family of aircraft, the A300/A310 and their respective freighter derivatives. The A300/A310 Family set completely new standards that were adopted on all modern civil aircraft later on.

In total, Airbus had built 822 A300/A310 Family aircraft, while the original business case only foresaw 300 aircraft to be built. The A300 was delivered to over 80 customers. Over the years, these aircraft have flown more than 30 million flight-hours and have taken off more than 15 million times. Today, more than 620 aircraft are still in operation.

The A300 programme was also the starting point of a successful European cooperation. From the beginning the work share was divided: The wings were produced in the UK, the fuselage in Germany and the cockpit in France. The Final Assembly Line was built in Toulouse, France. Eighteen months later, on December 18, 1970, Airbus Industrie was created as Grouping of Economic Interest under French law (GIE, Groupement d?int?r?t Economique) gathering the European industrial partners of the programme SNIAS (Soci?t? nationale industrielle a?rospatiale), Deutsche Airbus, Hawker-Siddeley and VFW-Fokker. Over the years, additional manufacturers joined the consortium, the Spanish CASA in December 1971 and British Aerospace in January 1979.

Airbus today is a leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive family of airliners on the market, ranging in capacity from 100 to more than 500 seats. Airbus has delivered more than 5,600 aircraft to some 400 customers and operators worldwide and boasts a healthy backlog of around 3,500 aircraft for delivery over the coming years. Airbus is a global company with design and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK and Spain as well as subsidiaries in the U.S., China, Japan and in the Middle East. Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is an EADS company.

News from Airbus