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| Mrs. Wuraola Oduntan, |
Etihad Airways’ newly appointed
General Manager for Nigeria, Mrs. Wuraola Oduntan in this interview with
FLYNAIJA, speaks on her passion and drive for the aviation industry as
well as her roles and expectations with the airline.
Tell us about Etihad Airways and also highlight what makes the airline different from others.
Etihad Airways was launched in 2003 and
today employs around 21,000 staff from more than 140 different
nationalities. It currently operates a fleet of 102 aircraft to 108
destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the
Americas. In its ten-year existence it has created a brand and a
service offering that is the envy of the industry. Mandated by its
shareholders to be the ‘best in class’, it has worked from the ground up
in redefining industry standards in customer service, drawing
inspiration from the very best five-star hospitality organisations
around the world. This holistic approach to quality and service has led
to Etihad Airways being awarded the ‘World’s leading Airline’ at the
World Travel Awards for the last five years. The airline has strong
management and we are all very clear on the vision to continue to be the
best. For me, there is nothing more rewarding than knowing that I am a
part of that team, and have a vital role to play in the organisation’s
continued progress and success.
What are your duties at Etihad Airways and how do you intend to carry out these roles?
My primary focus will be on ensuring
that the presence of Etihad Airways continues to be promoted and
enhanced across Nigeria and the West Africa region. This is a very
people-orientated business – and I and my team regularly meet with our
many corporate clients and travel agents who regularly fly or do
business with Etihad Airways, to ensure that they are informed of the
latest marketing activities, incentives and product enhancements
available to them here and across our network.
What are your personal and professional challenges?
Obviously there are some challenges with
my new position – but I have always been very determined, and believe
that perseverance pays off. I suppose if I had a mantra, it would be to
always remember that the customer must come first. On a personal front,
I am very proud of my achievements and look forward to encouraging
other women and girls who have aspirations of developing a career in
aviation.
What is new with Etihad Airways?
We have just unveiled ‘The Residence by
Etihad™’ – best described as the world’s most luxurious living space in
the air. Available for the first time on our first Airbus A380 aircraft
when they arrive later this year, ‘The Residence’ includes a selection
of lavish services designed to provide guests with optimum comfort in
the air. It is located in our breath-taking and completely new forward
upper-deck cabin, which can be shared by two guests travelling
together. The cabin features a living room, separate double bedroom and
en-suite shower room, and guests are attended to by a personal butler.
The A380’s also incorporate our new revolutionary First Apartments,
which comprise separate reclining lounge seat and full-length bed, as
well as a chilled mini-bar, personal vanity unit and wardrobe. On the
B787, our newly-enhanced First Suites boast many other new features
including a chilled mini-bar.
We will also be introducing the
next-generation Etihad Airways Business Studio which offers the highest
levels of innovation, style, and comfort to our guests travelling in
business class.
And to make things more relaxing for our
guests travelling in economy, we are rolling out our new Economy Smart
Seat, which is customised with a unique ‘fixed wing’ headrest, offering
greater levels of comfort and privacy.
On both fleets we are introducing the
latest Panasonic eX3 entertainment system with high definition screens
across all cabins. The system has video touchscreen handsets, offering
an additional screen so that guests can play games or view the moving
map, while watching a movie. The eX3 delivers an improved gaming
experience and allows us to provide our guests with more than 750 hours
of on-demand entertainment. Noise cancelling headsets have been
introduced across all cabins, with built-in magnetic audio jacks to
ensure the best sound quality.
In addition, the A380 aircraft has a full mobile and Wi-Fi service while the B787 is equipped with Wi-Fi.
Where do you see Etihad Airways in the next five years?
Quite simply, our goal is to be the
world’s best airline. If we are to achieve this, we must continue to
focus on understanding our customers’ needs by pioneering new products
and services and enhancing our network – ensuring that our guests are
provided with an outstanding travel experience at every touch point,
both on the ground and in the air. Our current fleet consists of over
100 aircraft – and we have more than 210 new aircraft on firm order
scheduled for delivery before 2025. We have already expanded our global
route network to 108 destinations, and we will continue to introduce new
destinations as the opportunities arise.
Last year we flew over 11.5 million
passengers – and just recently announced a new company record, where we
carried over 180,000 passengers over a four-day period in August. Our
target is to fly 25 million people a year by 2015. So, as you can see,
we are making some strong progress. However, much more still remains to
be done – and I am looking forward to playing my part in supporting the
company in achieving its goal.
What has the experience been in the time Etihad Airways has operated in Nigeria?
Etihad Airways’ performance in Nigeria
has gone from strength to strength following the launch of our service
between Lagos and Abu Dhabi in 2012. Our fast growing global route
network has been very popular with the large numbers of international
traders and members of the business community. They regularly fly
between West Africa and the United Arab Emirates, and onwards to the
major cities in North and Southeast Asia and the Indian Subcontinent. In
2013 we expanded our operation to a daily service to meet this demand.
This is a very exciting time to be at Etihad Airways.
