James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ president and chief executive officer, today met the Maharashtra chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, to reaffirm the Abu Dhabi-based airline’s commitment to the Indian state and its capital Mumbai.

Hogan, accompanied by Vijay Poonoosamy, the airline’s vice president, International & Public Affairs and Neerja Bhatia, general manager – India, met chief minister Fadnavis at his official residence in India’s commercial capital.

During the meeting the chief minister outlined the priorities of the state, identifying areas of mutual interest and opportunities for Etihad Airways to support economic growth.

Fadnavis and Hogan discussed new areas of collaboration between Maharashtra and Etihad Airways, especially in tourism and cargo exports.

In turn, Hogan gave an introduction to Etihad Airways, its operations into India and the significant benefits that come from the airline’s commercial and strategic partnership with Indian carrier, Jet Airways, for both India and Jet Airways.

Etihad Airways and Jet Airways together operate more than 220 flights between India and Abu Dhabi each week, including five daily flights from Mumbai and a daily flight from Pune.

Hogan also highlighted that Etihad Airways carries more business and leisure travellers into India than it takes out. In 2014 the number of flights to India, purchased in Europe, the GCC, and US, rose by 65 per cent compared to the previous year.

In the first six months of 2015 Etihad Airways transferred more than 235,000 guests onto Jet Airways’ network into India through its codeshare partnership, with Jet Airways providing 182,000 guests onto the Etihad Airways network.

Etihad Airways was the first foreign airline to invest in an Indian carrier under the current foreign direct investment (FDI) policy of India, making a $750 million investment which includes a 24 per cent equity stake in the airline.

Etihad Cargo also carries more than 1,200 tonnes of Indian products and exports to key markets in Europe, US and the Middle East each week and operates a dedicated freighter operation from Mumbai.

In the last five years, Etihad Airways has carried more than five million guests on its services to and from India.

Relations between the UAE and India continue to build with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi set to visit the UAE on August 16 and 17. – TradeArabia News Service