Etihad named founding member of UAE-India Business Council

Dubai: UAE's national carrier Etihad Airways has been named as one of the founding members of the UAE-India Business Council.

"India is a crucial market not only for Etihad Airways but the UAE itself and therefore we welcomed the opportunity to become a founding member of the UAE Business Council in India," James Hogan, Etihad Airways president and chief executive officer, said in a statement on Friday.

"Our strategic partnership with Jet Airways means both airlines are now carrying greater numbers of business and leisure travellers between the UAE and India and we look forward to using these ties as well as many more as we make a strong contribution to the UAE Business Council," Hogan said.

The airline was represented by Hareb Al Muhairy, senior vice president corporate and international Affairs, Abdul Qader Hussein Ahmed, vice president of government and international affairs and Neerja Bhatia, vice president India

and the Indian sub-continent.

Etihad Airways is one of nine founding members of the council. One of the key objectives of the organisation is to act as a catalyst for commercial entities to exchange ideas which in turn promotes economic synergy between the UAE and India.