A decade of orders by UAE carrier Etihad Airways for new Boeing aircraft is supporting more than 200,000 American jobs, said James Hogan, the airline’s president and chief executive officer.

Since 2006 the airline has introduced or placed orders for 115 wide-bodied Boeing aircraft, including 71 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, the first of which will enter service early next year.

The US Department of Commerce estimates that for every $1 billion invested in the US aerospace industry, 5,747 American jobs are supported.

“At 2014 list prices, the total value of Boeing jets we have received or have on order is $36.5 billion. Based on the US Government formula, this represents almost 210,000 US aerospace jobs.”

Etihad Airways has selected US made GE engines for all its Boeing aircraft, while other US suppliers manufacture aircraft seats, on-board equipment and provide inflight entertainment systems.

Last year Etihad Airways began a $1 billion partnership with Sabre Travel Technologies for the provision of a new IT platform to support its global passenger services systems. Furthermore, the airline also signed a major agreement with another US technology provider, SAP.

Etihad had recently launched a new nonstop service to San Francisco, strengthening ties between the two countries.

“Linking San Francisco via Abu Dhabi with the strategically important and rapidly growing markets in the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent will help to deepen the strong commercial, trade and cultural relationship between the US and the UAE,” Hogan said.

“The service between San Francisco and Abu Dhabi also offers convenient onward connectivity to more than 30 destinations across the GCC region, Middle East, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent, available through Etihad’s global network and codeshare agreements with partner airlines,” he said.

In addition to Etihad’s passenger services to the US, Etihad Cargo offers weekly flights to Miami and Chicago, as part of a round-the-world air freight service. These flights are operated for Etihad Cargo by US-based partner Atlas Air, using a Boeing 747-8 freighter in Etihad Cargo livery.

"This service supports US importers and exporters as well as furthering trade links between the UAE and the US", Hogan said. – TradeArabia News Service