Etihad signs MoU with Falcon Aviation Services, second preferred partner in 'Premium Connect' portfolio

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Falcon Aviation Services to add the Abu Dhabi-based helicopter charter service to the growing portfolio of preferred partnerships in Etihad'snew 'Premium Connect' travel service offering.

Established in 2006, Falcon Aviation Services is a leading operator in the aviation market, providing a range of premium helicopter services. Operating from Al Bateen Executive Airport, the air service provider is ideally located for quick transfers from the Etihad terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport to a wide range of destinations within the United Arab Emirates.

The agreement between the two companies will enable guests to access a personalised service beyond Etihad's extensive network. This is the purpose of Etihad's portfolio of carefully selected Premium Connect partnerships: to enable guests to continue their journey from Abu Dhabi to the rest of the UAE in style.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad's Chief Commercial Officer, said: "We are pleased to align our brand with Falcon Aviation Services as a unique travel provider well-suited to meet the expectations of our discerning premium passengers. Falcon Aviation Services is committed to high quality services that establish benchmark standards in terms of safety, quality and customer service and therefore an ideal partner for our Premium Connect programme."

A.J Baker, Falcon Aviation's Vice President of Business Development and Strategy, said: "Falcon Aviation Services is honoured to partner with Etihad to provide enhanced guest services via Premium Connect. In our luxury helicopters we will provide the same levels of excellent service that Etihad guests have come to expect."

For more information on Premium Connect and Falcon Aviation Services, visit Etihad Airways Premium Connect online.

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About Etihad
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, began operations in 2003, and in 2010 carried more than seven million passengers. From its hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Etihad serves 67 cities in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America (New York, Chicago and Toronto), with a fleet of 57 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and 100 aircraft on order, including 10 Airbus A380s, the world's largest passenger aircraft. For more information, please visit: www.etihadairways.com.

About Falcon Aviation Services
Falcon Aviation Services (FAS) was formed in early 2006 under the initiative of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. With its main operating base at Al Bateen Executive Airport, situated only 10km from the City Centre of Abu Dhabi, FAS helicopter and corporate jet fleet services include corporate jet charter, helicopter tourism, aerial photography & filming, aerial banner advertising, offshore/on-shore oil & gas support, aircraft maintenance and aircraft managerment. FAS is a founding board member of the Middle East Business Aircraft Association (MEBAA). For more information, please visit www.falconaviation.ae.

Etihad Airways launches Facebook page with promotion

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has launched its Facebook fan page with a major competition promoting new services to Malé, capital of the Maldives.

The winner of the promotion, titled ‘Escape to Paradise,’ will receive roundtrip airfares for two on the inaugural flight to Malé, transfers and four nights’ villa accommodation at SixSenses Laamu Maldives with full board, a company statement said.

The ‘Escape to Paradise’ promotion involves fans completing a Facebook quiz to determine how romantic they are, it added.

Users will receive fun, instant feedback from the quiz, as well as be entered to win the grand prize trip, according to the statement.

The competition will be available for participation and entry through to July 31 exclusively on Etihad Airways’ Facebook page.

“Social media channels are allowing companies to become increasingly creative and innovative with their marketing and communications approach,” said Peter Baumgartner, Etihad’s chief commercial officer.

“We are thrilled to officially launch this exciting campaign promoting Etihad’s services to the Maldives, one of the most romantic places in the world and a top honeymoon destination for our guests.”

“This is just the beginning for Etihad. We are focused on creating compelling and exciting content and promotions for our fan base and will look for innovative ways to tell the Etihad story and further encourage people to fly on the world’s leading airline,” he added.

Etihad will commence operations to Malé, the capital city of the Republic of Maldives, on November 1, making it the 67th destination on Etihad’s global network.

The airline will operate a daily return service from its home base in Abu Dhabi to Malé International Airport, operating Airbus A320 aircraft on the route.

Etihad’s Facebook page is accessible at facebook.com/etihad.airways.

PIA crash A321 due to heavy rain and weather conditions

A Pakistani passenger plane crashed in heavy rain near Islamabad Wednesday, killing all 152 people on board, officials said, in the worst aviation accident in Pakistan.

The Airbus 321, belonging to a private airline crashed into a heavily wooded and hard-to-access hillside while flying from the southern port city of Karachi.

Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said 115 bodies had been recovered so far but bad weather and difficult terrain above the city had hampered search efforts.

"Unfortunately, no one survived ... Many bodies are not in good shape," Kaira told a news conference.

Twelve bodies had been identified so far, but "the crash was very terrible. There was fire. It's difficult to recognize the bodies."

Passengers' remains were badly damaged in the crash and DNA tests would be used to identify the victims, he said.

Two Americans were among the victims, a U.S. embassy spokesman told Reuters. He had no further details.

While thick fog and rainy weather are considered the most likely reasons for the crash, Kaira declined to rule out sabotage and said all possibilities would be investigated.

Kaira said the plane's "black box" data recorder had yet to be recovered.

The plane lost contact with the control room of the Islamabad International Airport at 0443 GMT. It was carrying 146 passengers and six crew members.

"The pilot was given directions to land either on runway I or II," Interior Minister Rehman Malik told reporters. "The plane was at 2,600 feet before landing but suddenly it went to 3,000, which was unexplained."

"If the visibility to the runway was so poor then it should have been diverted."

Defense Minister Ahmed Mukhatar said the control tower at the airport had been sealed and a team would examine the data recorder and radio traffic between the plane and the tower.

"If you look at the position of the wreckage it's clear that the plane went beyond safety margins. It should have maneuvered within five miles of the runway but it did not happen," said Ejaz Haroon, managing director of state-run airline PIA.

The crash site is on the Margalla Hills facing Islamabad, about 300 metres (yards) up the side of the hills. Smoke could be seen from some districts of the city after the crash.

While Wednesday's crash is the worst aviation accident on Pakistani soil, PIA has had two worse disasters. In 1979 and 1992, PIA jets crashed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Kathmandu, killing 156 and 167 people, respectively.

Within Pakistan, the last major aviation accident was in 2006 when a PIA plane crashed near the central city of Multan killing 45 people.

NEW PLANE

The military sent three helicopters to the site and troops also were deployed. Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani surveyed rescue operations from the air and the government declared Thursday a day of mourning for the victims.

AirBlue began operations in 2004 with a fleet of Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, according to its website www.airblue.com. It flies primarily domestic routes as well as to the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Manchester in Britain.

Spokesman Raheel Ahmed said this was the first crash for the airline and that an investigation was being launched.

"It's too early to speculate," he said about the cause of the crash. "The civil aviation authorities will also be involved."

Airbus confirmed one of its planes was involved in the AirBlue crash.

"We regret to confirm there has been an accident with an Airbus aircraft and we will provide more information when we have more confirmed data available," said Airbus spokesman Stefan Schaffrath.

At Islamabad's international airport in the moments after the crash, passengers in the departure lounge scanned the television screens for news.

"I'm not surprised something like this has happened," said Ahmed Fairuz, a passenger awaiting departure. "The weather is just too bad for flying."

Aviation industry sources in Europe said the aircraft was leased from International Lease Finance Corp, the leasing unit of U.S. insurance giant AIG

Los Angeles-based ILFC was not available for comment and there was no immediate confirmation of these details.

The A321 is the largest of the A320 family of single-aisle jets produced by EADS subsidiary Airbus. This particular type of aircraft, which can seat up to 185 passengers, has been in service since 1994.