Etihad Airways appoints new General Manager in South Africa

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has promoted one of its most experienced industry executives to General Manager of South Africa. 

Xenia Adamou has been promoted from Sales Manager, a role she held with Etihad Airways for the past four years, to become its new General Manager for South Africa. Ms Adamou also spent over 30 years with South African Airways where she built an extensive career in a number of senior manager positions in sales and marketing. 

Etihad Airways Chief Commercial Officer, Peter Baumgartner, said: “Xenia Adamou has a proven track record within the industry and a huge sense of passion for what she does. She has an extensive knowledge of this market which has helped develop long standing relationships in the key corporate and travel sectors Etihad has successfully built up since its start of operations in 2005. We are now very much looking forward to her leadership and commitment bringing even greater results in the coming years.” 

Ms Adamou, who also speaks Afrikaans and Greek, replaces Maurice Phohleli, who has moved to be General Manager of Nigeria, starting up the airline’s new Lagos operation due to launch July 1^st, 2012. Ms Adamou’s responsibilities will be to continue to drive the business for Etihad Airways in South Africa and further develop the strong partnerships the airline has forged since launching flights to Johannesburg in December, 2005. 

“This is an opportunity that will allow me to utilize my current experience and knowledge whilst also continuing to play a leading role in the expanding business of the airline,” said Ms Adamou.   

“Through my time in the aviation industry and strong customer relationships built over many years, I believe I have a thorough understanding of customer needs and requirements, which will prove very valuable in this new portfolio.” 

Etihad Airways, which operates a two cabin Airbus A330-200 between Abu Dhabi and Johannesburg, flies seven times a week to the commercial capital of South Africa.