Bangkok--24 Nov--Star PR
Etihad Airways, the National Airline of the United Arab Emirates, has successfully completed the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), the global aviation benchmark for airline safety management.
The carrier achieved the required 100 per cent level in July 2006, having demonstrated that it complied with all the high standards managed by IATA in relation to operational management and control of the safety systems.
The week-long IOSA audit, carried out by an international team of seven people, is the only comprehensive worldwide aviation standard to include all eight major aspects of an airline’s ability to provide a safe operation. The main areas which received particular attention from the auditors were:
Corporate organisation and management Systems
Flight operations
Operational control and flight dispatch
Aircraft engineering and maintenance
Aircraft ground handling
Cargo operations
Operational security
Each section comprised of more than 750 individual standards and recommended practices that the airline was audited against. In order to achieve IOSA registration, Etihad had to demonstrate conformity to all of the required standards. In order to reach this goal, a team of 28 Etihad department managers invested thousands of hours to work closely together, coordinated by the airline’s Quality Management department.
Geert W. Boven, VP Commercial of Etihad Airways, commented: “We are extremely proud to have satisfied all of IATA’s stringent safety requirements to achieve IOSA Registration well in advance of the required deadline. Etihad prides itself on practising the highest global safety standards and strives to illustrate its commitment to operational excellence at every level.”
“As Etihad counts down to its third birthday, it is a particular achievement for such a new airline to have attained one of the best IOSA results recorded, a milestone which truly confirms Etihad’s position as one of the world’s leading airlines. We are confident that with this extra feather in our flight cap Etihad will continue from strength to strength, sealing its reputation within the industry as one of the most dynamic newcomers.”
Etihad Airways currently flies 14 times per week from Bangkok to Abu Dhabi with two flights a day, providing swift and convenient onward connections to the airline’s fast growing global network of 36 destinations.
About the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA)
Launched in 2003 as the industry’s first global standard for airline safety management, the programme is designed to assess the operational management and control systems of an airline. IOSA registration lasts for two years, at which time a recurrent audit is required to ensure ongoing compliance with IATA standards.
IOSA standards are based on International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and industry best practice. Audit standards were developed in cooperation with regulatory bodies including the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Transport Canada and Europe’s Joint Aviation Authority.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) oversees the accreditation of audit and training organisations, ensures continuous development of IOSA standards and recommended practices, and manages the central database. IATA requires its 261 companies, representing 94% of international traffic, to meet air safety standards by end 2007.
Currently 102 airlines (including 89 IATA members) are on the IATA Registry, which is publicly available at www.iata.org/registry .
About Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways, the National Airline of the United Arab Emirates, is the world’s leading new airline and currently offers flights for Guests and cargo to 45 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, North America, Africa and Asia.
Etihad Crystal Cargo — www.crystalcargo.ae — offers a comprehensive range of cargo services throughout Etihad’s network, and services its many all-cargo destinations and world-wide charters with a fleet of modern regional freighter aircraft.
Etihad Holidays - www.etihadholidays.com - offers a range of innovative holiday options in 82 destinations including skiing, fly-drives, cruises, tours, stopovers, inbound programmes and city breaks.
Through these exciting divisions, Etihad Airways is changing the way people see the world.
Etihad Airways has been awarded the titles of the world’s leading new airline in 2004, 2005 and 2006, and the world’s leading flat-bed seat in 2006 by the World Travel Awards.
For more information about this award-winning aviation group, please visit www.etihadairways.com .
Etihad Bangkok Office
18th Floor, M Thai Tower,
All Seasons Place,
87 Wireless Road, Phatumwan,
Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Tel. 0 253-0099
Fax. 0 253-2100
For further media information, please contact
Kesama Trairattananusorn
Star PR Co.,Ltd.
Tel: 02-653-5055 Fax 02-653-5117
E-mail: [email protected]