Take off with Etihad airways at Ibn Batutta mall
Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national airline, has landed in Dubai with a Boeing 777 flight simulator, allowing the public to take a break from shopping and test their flying skills at one of the city’s busiest malls.
Complete with two Boeing training managers, the simulator will allow children and adults alike to take to the skies in Ibn Batutta Mall’s China Court between Tuesday 5 and Friday 8, May 2009.
Flights on the simulator are free of charge and open to budding ‘pilots’ of all ages.
Part of Etihad’s strategy to generate awareness of its brand, network and new routes, the simulator offers an opportunity for visitors to the mall to interact with the brand and enjoy the Etihad experience.
Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ chief commercial officer, said: “Etihad Airways is always on the look out for budding new pilots and Ibn Batutta shopping mall – just 45 minutes away from Abu Dhabi airport - is the perfect recruiting ground for us to give these young high fliers an early taste of what it’s like to fly with the world’s fastest growing airline.
“Working with Nakheel which owns Ibn Batutta shopping mall gives us a great opportunity to raise further the profile of Etihad and the convenience for Dubai residents of flying from Abu Dhabi.”
The arrival of the aircraft simulator in Ibn Batutta mall coincides with Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the largest travel and tourism event in the Middle East where Etihad Airways will be hosting one of this year’s largest exhibition stands.
