Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has appointed Norio Inaba as its new general manager for Japan.

Norio, a Japanese national, has more than 25-years of experience within the travel industry including senior sales management roles at American Airlines, American Express, Nippon Travel Agency and American Express International Inc in Japan.

Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer of Etihad Airways, said that the appointment would bring valuable industry experience and leadership to the airline’s Japanese operations.

“We are fortunate to have a senior executive of Norio’s calibre joining our global sales team,” he said.

“His many years of experience in aviation and the corporate travel market will be a great asset to our business in Japan.

“He brings a vast network of business and travel industry contacts which will be a powerful arsenal in our strategy to expand our share of the Japanese travel market.”

Etihad Airways commenced services to Japan in February 2010.

Today, the airline operates tenservices a week to its two gateways, Nagoya and Narita (Tokyo) with a fleet of Airbus A330-200 aircraft configured in two classes, Pearl Business and Coral Economy.

Etihad Airways employs a total of 111 Japanese nationals across its global operation including approximately 80 Abu Dhabi-based Japanese cabin crew.

Norio added: “I am honoured to be joining such a world-beating airline and to have responsibility for leading its strategy in the Japanese marketplace.

“I look forward to working with the local team and our industry partners to achieve even greater commercial success.”
Norio will commence in the Tokyo-based role on June 11, reporting to Joost den Hartog, Etihad Airways’ Vice President for Asia Pacific North and the Indian Sub-Continent.

Etihad is considered the World’s Leading Airline by the World Travel Awards.