Etihad Airways’ President named one of the 25 most influential business travel executives in 2015

NEW YORK, 9th December, 2015 (WAM) -- James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, has been recognised as one of the 25 most influential business travel executives by Business Travel News, BTN, the premier industry publication for corporate travel news. The 2015 list of industry honourees was announced last night at the BTN Group’s Business Travel Trends and Forecasts conference in New York City. This year’s publication marks the 32nd annual list of Business Travel News’ most influential business travel executives. This prestigious listing recognises those who have most influenced the business travel industry over the past year. "BTN identified Mr Hogan early in the year as a person to watch," said Elizabeth West, Business Travel News’ Editor-In-Chief. "Completing Etihad’s purchase of a 49 percent stake in Alitalia last December underscored his dedication to a bold equity alliance strategy. This, along with his continued effort to place downward pressure on long-haul airfares, have earned him a spot on our annual list." Hogan said, "Etihad Airways and our 27,000 employees worldwide are reinventing the air travel experience, bringing competition, world-class hospitality and revolutionary new products to our guests, while providing access to parts of the world that would otherwise go underserved or unserved." He continued, "We are not about being the biggest, Etihad Airways has always been about being the best, and, through our three-prong strategy of organic growth, codeshares and equity partners, Etihad Airways has been able to compete effectively with carriers much longer established and much larger in size. I thank Business Travel News and I extend my congratulations to my fellow honourees." Hogan was appointed President and Chief Executive of Etihad Airways in September 2006 and has more than 30 years of travel industry expertise. He has since overseen the rapid growth of the airline, which included the launch of six new routes on three continents during 2015, taking its global network of destinations to 116 with a fleet of 120 aircraft with more than 200 aircraft on firm order. The airline operates an expanding network of passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas. – Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395288963629.html