Etihad appoints first female Emirati airport manager

 Fatima joined Etihad in 2009 as part of the graduate management program, a structured 18 month training initiative that develops talented Emiratis who are carefully selected and trained in all aspects of airline operations.
After successfully completing the program, Fatima spent two years building up her experience of airport operations and was posted as airport duty manager to a number of outstations across the airline’s fast growing global network, including London, Manchester, and Singapore.
Fatima was then appointed as assistant airport manager in Australia where she has been responsible for overseeing the smooth operations at Sydney’s International Airport.
Chris Youlten, Etihad Airways’ senior vice president airport operations, said: “Fatima has demonstrated a strong understanding of airport operations and has a track record of performing consistently and to the highest standards. We are confident that she is the ideal candidate to lead our operations in one of Japan’s busiest airports.”
As part of developing the UAE national workforce and offering them the opportunity to gain international working experience, Etihad recently deployed more than 190 UAE nationals to various positions at the airline’s offices and airport destinations across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas.
Fatima said:” I am excited to take on this new and challenging role.”
Female employees make up 42 per cent of Etihad Airways’ workforce and this includes more than 130 Emirati women in the airline’s various management development programs, 34 pilots, 32 technical engineers and 49 females deployed in overseas positions across the airline’s global network.
Ray Gammell, chief people and performance officer, said: “As the national airline of the United Arab Emirates we are committed to growing and developing a highly qualified cadre of UAE Nationals – both female and male.
“We especially value the contributions that Emirati women make to our business and the important role they play in the day to day operations of the airline. We are particularly proud of Fatima whose hard work and dedication has led her to be entrusted with the critical role of airport manager in one of Japan’s busiest airports.”