Etihad set to reveal jobs and investment boost

ETIHAD, the Middle East Airline, is set to announce a further investment in Greater Manchester, creating scores of jobs.

James Hogan, the Abu Dhabi-based carrier’s chief executive, is attending a press conference at Manchester Airport this morning along with bosses from inward investment agency MIDAS and Manchester Airport as well as city council leader Sir Richard Leese.

Etihad, which recently announced an expansion of its Manchester-Abu Dhabi services to twice daily from May, has also invested in a new business class lounge at Terminal 1.

The airline, which is also major sponsor of Manchester City FC, said last April that it was considering Manchester as a possible location for a European call centre, which would create around 200 jobs.

Speaking at last year’s Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce annual dinner James Hogan said Manchester was vying with Dublin and Brussels for the ‘significant investment’.

Meanwhile Emirates, the Dubai-based airline said 35 jobs were being created in the region asa result of  its expansion to three daily flights.

The positions will be available both at the airport and at the airline’s European call centre in Wilmslow. Once filled, the jobs will take the total number of Emirates employees in the region to more than 400.

Emirates, due to its growing sales and customer service staff, is already the North West’s biggest overseas airline employer.

Laurie Berryman, Emirates Vice President for the UK and Ireland said:  “As well as providing greater opportunities for our customers with the third daily service, it’s also hugely satisfying that we are able to give the local economy a boost as well through job creation.”