Etihad announces new aviation jobs in Manchester

By Caroline Clayfield on 8-Feb-2012

Middle Eastern airline Etihad has announced plans to consolidate its European administrative operations at Manchester Airport in England.

The airline’s chief executive, James Hogan, told the Manchester Evening News that he hoped the move would create 100 aviation jobs in the city within eighteen months and bring all of the company’s European back-office operations under one roof.

The news comes hot on the heels of the airline’s announcement that it is setting up its main call center at Manchester Airport, which will create 160 jobs by July.

Mr Hogan said that the city was the perfect places in terms of it being a hub for aviation and industry, where they will find a highly-qualified workforce.

“All the administrative and other back-room service functions for the whole of Europe will over a period of time come to Manchester,” he said. “We have made the decision the Manchester will be an important base for us and I would expect that to be at least another 100 jobs coming here over the next 18 months.”

Etihad already has strong ties with the English city, operating 14 flights from there to the UAE and Middle East every week. It also runs a line maintenance facility at the airport and has a 10-year sponsorship deal with local football team, Manchester City.