Bangkok--3 Oct--Total Quality PR Etihad Airways, The National Airline of the United Arab Emirates, which operates highly popular twice daily flights from Bangkok to Abu Dhabi and onwards to 45 destinations around the globe, has entered the world-famous Guinness Book of Records for 2008 following the airline’s successful record for “the greatest weight difference during flight formation” at January’s Al Ain Aerobatic Show. Captain Granger Narara, Etihad Airways’ vice president flight operations, flew into the record books as he piloted an Etihad Airbus A330-200 in formation with a Sukhoi Su-26 and an Extra-300S, two stunt planes. James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said: “The flight formation world record was a magnificent effort by Captain Granger and the other pilots. Etihad Airways regularly sets new records for its growth and to enter the Guinness Book of Records for the flight formation is a very special achievement for everyone at the airline.” Etihad Airways is a platinum sponsor of the Al Ain Aerobatic Show, a highlight of the international aerobatics event calendar which draws an audience of more than 125,000 people from more than 40 countries around the world. Zoltan Veres, who flew one of the stunt planes in the flight formation record, also set another world record at the Aerobatic Show when he successfully achieved 408 consecutive rolls in his Extra-300S. Photo caption: (left to right) Granger Narara, Etihad Airways’ vice president flight operations celebrates entering the Guinness Book of Records with Yousif Hassan Al Hammadi, president of the Emirates Aviation Association Notes: The Etihad Airways A330-200 take-off weight was 230,000 kg (507,063 lb), the Sukhoi Su-26 take-off weight was 835 kg (1,840 lb) and the Extra-300S take-off weight was 845 kg (1,862 lb). About Etihad Airways Etihad Airways is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates based in the UAE’s capital, Abu Dhabi. Currently Etihad offers flights to 45 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, North America, Africa and Asia. For further details: Etihad Airways Corporate Communications: Tel: 02 253 0099 or visit www.etihadairways.com For more information as well as pictures, please contact: Tom Van Blarcom / Ruthaiwan Tanwongwan Total Quality PR (Thailand) Co., Ltd Tel. 02 260 5820 Fax 02 260 5847 — 8 E-mail : [email protected]