Etihad Airways is the national airline of Abu Dhabi and was founded by the royal decree of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in february 2003. Etihad Airways flies to over 55 locations all around the world and holds the title of being best business class airline in the worldhttp://www.etihadairways.com/sites/etihad/global/en/aboutetihad/mediacenter/newslisting/newsdetails/Pages/BestbusinessclassSkytraxawardforEtihadAirways.aspx?fromNewsListing=true. On November 18, 2009, Etihad Airways was voted the world’s best carrier at the World Travel Awards (WTA)http://blogs.timeslive.co.za/wanderer/2009/11/18/180-000-travellers-cant-be-wrong-etihad-voted-worlds-best-airline/.
Key Dates
February, 2003 - Etihad Airways founded by royal decree of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE
2003 - Sheikh Ahmed bin Saif Al Nahyan becomes Chairman
November 12, 2003 - Start of commercial operations to Beirut
2008 - Etihad place an order for $43 billion worth of Airbus and Boeing aircraft
2008 - Passengers rise to above 6,000,000
November 18, 2009]] - Etihad Airways voted world's best carrier at the World Travel Awards (WTA)
