Etihad Airways has appointed Christophe Didier as its general manager for Brazil.

Christophe joins Etihad Airways from Delta Airlines where he held a number of senior sales positions in Latin and North America.

Prior to that, he worked in senior sales and marketing roles in Air France where he started his career in 1989.

Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer, Etihad Airways, said: “Christophe brings to Etihad Airways more than 24 years of aviation and commercial management experience along with first-hand knowledge of the Latin American market.

“He has the right credentials to accelerate the growth of our business in Brazil.

“Our Abu Dhabi - São Paulo services continue to enjoy strong demand from business and leisure travellers wishing to visit Brazil, the UAE and further afield to destinations across our fast growing global network.

“We are pleased that Christophe will lead our commercial operations in São Paulo as we enter the next phase of our development in the dynamic and exciting Brazilian market continues to grow.”

Christophe will take up the new role on today, reporting to Geert Boven, Etihad Airways senior vice president Americas.

Etihad Airways launched daily flights to São Paulo in June 2013 and currently offers 3,360 seats per week between Abu Dhabi and São Paulo, and over 350 flights per week beyond onto destinations across the Arabian Gulf, North Africa and the Levant, as well as further east in China and Japan and across Asia.