Tag Archives: Robin Kamark

Etihad Guest has launched exciting new offers for members to enjoy, from points transfers to discounted redemptions and more.Members who convert a minimum of 5,000 Etihad Guest Miles from other loyalty programmes between now and August 31, 2020 will receive one Tier Mile for every mile transferred, encouraging guests to help maintain or even upgrade their Tier status which will enable them to enjoy additional benefits. Points can be transferred from other loyalty programmes including, Air Miles, Citibank, Emirates NBD, Etisalat and First Abu Dhabi Bank. Robin Kamark, Chief Commercial Officer, Etihad Aviation Group said, “In addition to the many deals that Etihad Guest is unveiling, we are currently offering a massive sale on miles redemption with a 30% discount on Guest Seats, hotel stays and car rentals when booking with Travel Rewards, valid for travel until 31 May 2021. Selected items on the Reward Shop are also discounted by 30%. We hope our members will enjoy taking part in these summer prizes”. UAE members who have the Etihad Guest mobile app will also save 30% when they redeem their miles through the app at Aldar malls across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain (WTC, Yas Mall, Al Jimi Mall) until 27 August 2020.In partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, members can take advantage of unbeatable brand discounts of up to 80% until 31 August 2020 across 21 malls participating in the summer-long Unbox Amazing promotion in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra. Additionally, 1,000,000 Etihad Guest Miles, among other prizes are up for grabs as part of a series of Shop & Win prize draws. Members who spend more than AED 200 at any …

Etihad Airways will resume passenger flights from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, to Shanghai, China. The service will operate with an initial weekly flight using a Boeing 777-300ER, featuring Business and Economy cabins. Robin Kamark, Etihad Aviation Group Chief Commercial Officer, said, “We are delighted to announce the resumption of scheduled services to China, as we gradually return to more destinations on our global network, supporting the recovery of economic and social activities worldwide. Our priority now is to build the network back up on markets that have opened up and to provide a secure and hygienic flying environment across the entire guest journey.” “The restarting of passenger services between Abu Dhabi and Shanghai will cater to the large demand from business travellers in the UAE, China, and other economies in the Middle East and Africa. We are tremendously grateful to our customers and partners for their continued loyalty and we stand ready fly more frequencies to China when possible,” Kamark said. The return to a larger network of international flights is being greatly supported by the Etihad Wellness sanitisation and safety programme, which ensures the highest standards of hygiene are maintained at every stage of the customer journey. This includes specially trained Wellness Ambassadors, a first in the industry, who have been introduced by the airline to provide essential travel health information and care on the ground and on every flight, so guests can fly with greater ease and peace of mind.

Etihad Airways has expanded its hand baggage only ‘Deal Fare’ which allows travellers to purchase lower fares in Economy Class if no checked baggage is required, to include destinations across Europe and Asia.  The ‘Deal Fare’ includes a complimentary carry-on baggage allowance of 7kg and was initially only available on flights between Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Azerbaijan. Throughout July and August 2020, Etihad is introducing the ‘Deal Fare’ on new routes including: Belarus, Greece, India, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Serbia, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Turkey. Robin Kamark, Chief Commercial Officer, Etihad Airways said, “Following its success within the GCC region, we are excited to include more destinations that are six hours or less from Abu Dhabi to our ‘Deal Fare’, giving our guests more options to pack light when travelling for business, weekend getaways or day trips. However, due to current government restrictions in place while travelling during the COVID-19 pandemic, guests are only allowed to bring 5kg of personal hand luggage on board while the complimentary 7kg carry-on baggage allowance attached to the ‘Deal Fare’ will be checked in for free until restrictions are lifted.”  Etihad Guest members who purchase the ‘Deal Fare’ can continue to enjoy an additional free checked baggage allowance (Etihad Guest Silver – 10kg, Etihad Guest Gold – 15kg and Etihad Guest Platinum – 20kg).

Etihad Airways is encouraging travellers to start planning their next trip, once travel restrictions ease with the launch of ‘Etihad Travel Voucher’. Guests who purchase an Etihad Travel Voucher between June 10-24, 2020 will receive an extra 50% cash value for future travel from August 1, 2020 onwards. The vouchers are available in increments of USD 250 to a maximum of USD 65,000. The value of the purchased voucher plus 50% extra credit will be added to a Travel Bank account for future redemption on flights, upgrades and extras. Robin Kamark, Chief Commercial Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said, “Now, more than ever, we want to give the world something to look forward to. Valid for two years, Etihad Travel Voucher will give our guests plenty of time to plan their future trip, and with 50% extra credit, they will spend less on that well-deserved break,”

Etihad Airways is introducing Etihad credit to give guests the freedom to delay their travel plans by permitting a free cancellation and is offering the original value of their booking to be used as credit towards their next trip. As the situation around COVID-19 continues to evolve, these new measures will provide maximum flexibility and ensures guests that need to travel, do so safely and conveniently. Robin Kamark, Chief Commercial Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said, “Now, more than ever, there is a global effort to care for one another and halt the spread of COVID-19 and under these challenging circumstances. Etihad Credit is our way of helping to relieve some of the unnecessary burden many of our customers are facing.” Etihad Credit is available for all guests who have booked to travel before June 30, 2020. Guests have until September 30, 2020 to rebook their trip, for travel until December 31, 2020 – any ticket, any fare type, any Etihad destination. Any fare difference from the original ticket price will be charged. Additionally, Etihad Guest Members will be gifted monthly bonus Tier Miles from March 31 for three months to help them maintain their Tier Status. Eligible Members will receive further information directly. For guests with essential travel requirements, Etihad is working closely with the World Health Organisation, the Ministry of Health and Prevention of the United Arab Emirates, and IATA, as well as other organisations, to ensure a healthy flying experience. 

Effective June 1, 2020, Etihad Airways will transfer all its flights to and from Abu Dhabi and Beijing, and its flights to and from Beijing to Nagoya, Japan, to Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX). Robin Kamark, Etihad Aviation Group Chief Commercial Officer, said, “Since launching flights between Beijing and Abu Dhabi 12 years ago, we have experienced huge growth in China’s tourism and aviation markets, and enjoyed strong demand from business and leisure travellers, and cargo, assisted by direct services, codeshare partners, the mutual visa-exemption policy between the two nations implemented in January 2018, and the great joint efforts put into promoting bi-directional routes. The move also further reinforces our commitment to the China market and our Chinese guests, and contributes to the promising bilateral relationship. “Whilst the spread of COVID-19 has posed a major challenge for all airlines serving China, with a massive drop in demand on key routes, we remain optimistic that the situation will improve by the summer and we continue serving Beijing from Abu Dhabi presently, demonstrating our unwavering support and commitment to our Chinese partners and the China market as a whole,” Kamark added. Maarten de Groof, Chief Commercial Officer, Abu Dhabi Airports, said, “Our sister-airport partnership with Beijing’s brand new airport reflects the importance of our long-standing relationship with the Chinese airport sector. Such cooperation and the ever-growing popularity of Abu Dhabi as a destination has enabled this transfer of flights to Beijing’s new airport and we look forward to continue working with Etihad and our Chinese colleagues to enhance our partnership at all levels in the years ahead.”

Etihad Airways will launch new daily scheduled year-round flights to Vienna. The service will initially operate with four weekly flights between May 22 and June 30, 2020. Etihad is introducing the new service to provide greater choice and convenience for point-to-point business and leisure travellers between the UAE and Austria, and to promote direct inbound tourism to Abu Dhabi. Departures have been conveniently timed to arrive early morning in Vienna, and to connect seamlessly in both directions via Abu Dhabi to gateways across the Etihad network including the GCC, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Robin Kamark, Chief Commercial Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said, “The announcement of this route brings the number of our European passenger destinations to 22. Austria is an important trade and tourism partner for the UAE and the new flights will enable us to take advantage of the increasing business and leisure demand between the two countries. Trade between the UAE and Austria is strong and there are approximately 180 Austrian companies operating in the emirates. Tourism has been increasing in both directions with Austria becoming an increasingly popular year-round destination with UAE nationals and residents, attracted by the centuries old culture, breathtaking scenery, and famous ski resorts.” Etihad’s two-class Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner features next-generation Business and Economy cabins configured with 290 seats – 28 Business Studios and 262 Economy Smart Seats. The introduction of the widebody aircraft on the route will provide Etihad with opportunities for belly-hold cargo between Abu Dhabi and Vienna, and onwards across the Etihad Cargo network.

Etihad Airways announced a partnership with Braathens IT to develop TravelPass, an innovative travel solution initially aimed at corporate and frequent travellers which will be launched later this year. The new TravelPass technology provides a subscription-based travel solution, allowing Etihad to offer its frequent guests complete flexibility and ease with their regular and recurring travel arrangements. Customers can purchase a TravelPass for a set number of trips or a particular travel period instead of purchasing flights one by one. Subscription-based travel is good news for the aviation industry as it provides customers with the choice between prepaid trips and pay-as-you-fly options, meeting the demands of flexibility, ease of booking and cost-efficient travel management. Robin Kamark, Chief Commercial Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said, “The innovative TravelPass technology offers a revolutionary booking experience for corporate and frequent clients who will also be enrolled into our award-winning Etihad Guest frequent flyer programme. By simplifying the travel process to just a few clicks, our guests have a seamless transaction through a platform that holds all your details in one place, gives you the flexibility to make changes to your bookings without fees and gives you the choice to pay later. We know our corporate clients are time-poor and believe this innovative addition to our digital offering will improve the travel journey for subscribers.” Svein Therkelsen, Chief Executive Officer, Braathens IT, said, “Etihad is going to take sophisticated digital personalisation very far, everything from ease of use to customisation. They are an innovative player and they will continue in that direction to improve their customers’ digital experience using TravelPass.”

Etihad Airways has announced the launch of new seasonal flights to Malaga in Spain, to meet strong customer demand from across the UAE and GCC for flights to the province of Andalucía. Three weekly flights will operate via the Moroccan capital, Rabat, from June 26 to September 13, 2020. Robin Kamark, Chief Commercial Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said, “Malaga has been on our wish-list for some time and we are tremendously pleased to announce summer season services to the Costa del Sol, a region which for decades has been popular with travellers from across the United Arab Emirates. This will be the only service between the UAE and the main gateway to Andalucía. Together with Madrid and Barcelona, Malaga will be Etihad’s third destination in Spain, further boosting our successful operations to the Iberian Peninsula.” Etihad Airways’ three-class version of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner features 8 private first suites, 28 business studios and 190 economy smart seats. The introduction of the aircraft will also provide new belly-hold cargo capacity between southern Spain and Abu Dhabi, and beyond to destinations on Etihad’s global route network. The number of visitors from the UAE to Spain has been rising rapidly, thanks in part to a successful Schengen visa waiver programme introduced for UAE nationals in 2015.

Etihad Airways has announced its “Etihad Airways” mobile application on the HUAWEI AppGallery enabling 390 million global monthly active users in more than 170 countries and regions to manage their journeys with even greater ease via the app. The Etihad Airways mobile app is simple and user-friendly, enabling comprehensive trip management functionalities by taking full advantage of the latest innovations in mobile technology. Guests can now organise their journeys via the app, including booking flights, checking-in for flights, securing a mobile boarding pass, checking flight status, or viewing their Etihad Guest miles balance. The addition to the HUAWEI AppGallery is a step forward in Etihad Airways Digital Guest Innovation strategy to enable a convenient, personalised digital travel experience and marks the first step in a new partnership between Etihad Airways and HUAWEI AppGallery. Etihad Airways and HUAWEI AppGallery will jointly explore more possibilities in this digital collaboration. For a start, Etihad’s mobile application will also be integrated into HMS ecosystem, delivering an even better user experience for Etihad Airways users on HUAWEI and HONOR devices. Robin Kamark, Chief Commercial Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said, “By launching this mobile app, we will be the first MENA carrier to launch a mobile app in the HUAWEI AppGallery, further solidifying its commitment to the China market and Chinese guests.” “The United Arab Emirates has gradually become one of the preferred places for Chinese outbound travel. The cooperation between Etihad Airways and HUAWEI AppGallery will be a big step attempt, since we aim to build the bridge between the best local content and our global users,” comments Adam Xiao, Managing Director of HUAWEI Mobile Services MEA, Consumer Business Group.