Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) and its equity partner airlines
will support 108,000 jobs across the United States this year while making a
$10.7 billion contribution to the national economy, according to figures released by a global consultancy that noted the UAE company’s impact in one of the world’s most
important economies.
“The U.S. is one of the world’s leading economies and
Etihad Airways, together with its partners within EAG, have made great strides
to stimulate air travel to and from the United States, have created vital air
corridors connecting global markets and have become a key contributor to the
U.S. economy,” James Hogan, Etihad Aviation Group president and CEO, said.
EAG operates in six gateway hubs in the United States. In
2016, the company’s core economic contribution to the U.S. economy will be $3.8
billion in gross domestic product (GDP), supporting 30,300 jobs. This figure is
derived from the company’s global operations and capital spending with U.S.-based
suppliers. Additionally, some 280,000 international visitors come through the country
via Etihad Airways flights per year. This creates a sizable economic footprint,
which is estimated to contribute $1.8 billion in GDP and around 22,400 American
jobs.
“As Etihad Airways expands its U.S. operations, and the
importance of Abu Dhabi as a global hub grows, so will our impact on the U.S. economy, in particular the employment landscape with the huge number of jobs
supported across the country, both directly and indirectly,” Hogan said. The
figures from the report clearly show the catalytic incremental effect that the
Etihad Aviation Group will have in the job market and on the US economy in the
years to come.”
