Etihad Airways Partners the seventh-largest global airline group

Etihad Airways stated (27-Apr-2016) its equity partners comprise the seventh-largest global airline grouping. The airline said the return on its equity investments in Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, airberlin, Alitalia, Etihad Regional, Jet Airways and Virgin Australia was "many times more" than its investment. Etihad Airways president and CEO James Hogan said all partners are delivering network connectivity, generating additional revenue and creating economies of scale. Mr Hogan said many partner carriers, including Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Jet Airways and Virgin Australia, are also delivering on their internal profit-and-loss goals. Mr Hogan said, "For an investment smaller than the cost of three new aircraft, we have been able to build our global network, attract five million new customers and USD1.4 billion of revenues, and share massive cost synergies. That's smart business." [more - original PR]