Etihad Welcomes Latest Class of Graduates

Etihad Airways has welcomed its latest group of Emirati graduates.

A total of 31 UAE national cadet pilots,10 graduate managers, one engineer graduate and 77 contact centre staff from the UAE, and an additional 11 graduating cadet pilots of other nationalities were recognised in a ceremony at the Al Raha Beach Hotel in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

The graduating cadet pilots, who have completed an 18 month training course, have now joined the airline as second officers.

 “The most valuable asset of any organisation is its people and that’s why staff development is such a big focus for us. We continuously strive to develop our training programs and have invested in state – of – the art educational facilities,” said James Hogan, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways. “As the national airline of the UAE, and as part of our support of the Abu Dhabi 2030 plan, we are committed to training and developing a national workforce of skilled motivated Emiratis.”

Etihad’s cadet pilot program has grown considerably since it was launched in January 2007 and now boasts 106 UAE nationals who are currently training to become fully qualified pilots.

Also, among the graduates was Loulua Abdulla Salem Abdulla Mohamed, Etihad’s second ever female Emirati graduate engineer.

Etihad’s engineering program offers UAE nationals the opportunity to obtain a diploma in Aviation Engineering Technology (Airframe and Aero engines or Avionics). On completion of the program trainees received an approved GCAA higher diploma in Aviation Engineering including on the job training.

In 2009, Etihad announced the creation of an all female UAE national contact centre facility in Al Ain, and a six month contact centre agents training course was designed and delivered in partnership with Abu Dhabi University in Al Ain. The extensive 10 week program consists of core skills, service skills and generic English language skills. This program is further reinforced with close to three weeks of on the job training.

The graduation ceremony also recognised the fourth group of graduate managers, who completed a 21-month training program which included a nine-month workplace orientation in key Etihad departments, followed by a six month placement with a specified team and, finally, a business-based project. They will now be placed in various departments across Etihad’s network, including positions at outstations in Munich, Chicago, London and Melbourne.

Etihad’s Emiratisation program currently has 228 UAE national trainees deployed across the airline, including 103 cadet pilots, 38 graduate managers and 57 technical engineers.

The total percentage of UAE nationals working for Etihad Airways is currently 14%.

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