DHAKA: Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has appointed Hanif Zakaria as its General Manager for Bangladesh.  

Hanif joins Etihad Airways from Safi Airways, where he held a number of senior sales positions in the Gulf region.

Hanif started his career with British Airways in the airline’s Saudi offices.  He then went on to become the Branch Manager of Saudi Tourist and Travel Bureau before moving on to Emirates Airlines where he spent 20 years of his career working mainly in the field of airline trade management.

Hanif has an excellent track record of working in the commercial aviation environment. His key responsibilities will be to increase awareness of the Etihad Airways brand and develop and further grow the airline’s relationships with the key travel trade and corporate customers across Bangladesh.

Peter Baumgartner, Chief Commercial Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “Hanif brings to Etihad Airways more than 30 years of aviation and commercial management experience.

His extensive contacts within the Bangladeshi travel industry will also be invaluable as he continues to strengthen our presence in this market, he added.

“Hanif will make a significant contribution in serving the growing numbers of guests travelling between the UAE and Bangladesh and further afield to destinations across our fast growing global network.”

Hanif will report to Amer Khan, Etihad Airways’ Area General Manager Area General Manager- Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Etihad Airways launched daily flights to Dhaka in May 2006 and has carried more than one million passengers on this route to date.

Source: albawaba.com

BDST: 1555 HRS, JAN 21, 2013