Feb 14, 2006
IT used to be said that no ship in the world is afloat without a Filipino seaman serving aboard. Now, this observation could be applied to commercial airlines as well.
Etihad Airways, the two-year-old national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), flew its inaugural flight to Manila on Monday with a Filipino pilot-in-command and five Filipina stewardesses among the 13 crewmembers.
"We are proud to have Filipinos among our crew because they bring the warmth and hospitality to our company, traits that Filipinos are known for throughout the world," says Charles Phelps-Penry, regional manager for Asia-Pacific, during a press conference at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport .
UAE is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south and west, Oman to the east and north, and is made up of seven emirates which were formerly all independent sheikdoms. The airline's crew comprises a virtual United Nations with other members of the group, aside from the Philippines , coming from India , Estonia , United Kingdom , Belarus , France , Morocco and Malaysia .
The air carrier actually employs 72 nationalities, speaking their own languages.
Etihad flies out of Manila four times a week, arriving at the Naia I at 3:50 p.m. and leaving for Abu Dhabi at 8:45 p.m. every Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.
There is an existing trade between the two nations, with the Philippines looking to increase its major export of electrical, machinery, clothing and timber products.
Penry, who used to be with the British Airways in a variety of positions, said that Manila becomes Etihad's second largest destination in Asia after Bangkok .
"Today is a milestone in the Asia-Pacific because Manila becomes our second major destination to serve the 200,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in the UAE," he said.
The UAE and the Philippines have enjoyed a tremendous bilateral relationship for many years and the new Etihad service bridges this further so that guests would be offered frequent and flexible service.
Etihad is planning to add eight more routes to Asia that would include Jakarta , Kuching, Lahore , among others.
Already, the air carrier currently flies to 20 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, North America and Asia . He added that he is proud to have in their company's employ the first Filipino pilot, Capt. Jose Augusto Quimpo, who had been with them since two years ago.
Quimpo, a Philippine Airlines (PAL) veteran, left the airline in 1989 to fly Etihad's Airbus 330. R. Mercene
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