Etihad and partners contribute $3.6bn to African economy

Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) and its equity airline partners will support almost 425,000 jobs and are expected to contribute US$3.6 billion GDP to the African economy in 2016, as Abu Dhabi becomes a key hub for business travel both into and out of the continent. 

A report released by leading international research organisation Oxford Economics Group reveals that EAG and its partners make a substantial contribution to economic prosperity in Africa and throughout the global economy providing vital connections between leading commercial centres and emerging markets.

EAG and its partners will deliver a core economic contribution of US$1.1 billion and a tourism contribution of US$2.5 billion, said the report. In turn, they will support 117,000 jobs through core operations, with another 308,000 jobs supported through the tourism contribution. 

In 2016, Etihad Airways operates services to 117 passenger and cargo destinations around the world, and is expected to carry 19 million passengers on over 100,000 flights, among which almost 8,300 flights will be to and from Africa serving some 1.1 million passengers in the continent. 

Since launching its first service to Egypt in 2004, Etihad Airways has expanded its operations across the African continent with the opening up of outstations in a further eight countries including South Africa, Morocco, Libya, Sudan, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania. 

The core contribution of US$1.1 billion includes the impact of EAG’s global operations, its capital spending in Africa, and the operational impact of its partners. Among this, EAG’s global operations alone will make a US$400 million contribution to the economy and sustain 39,700 jobs in 2016, mainly through purchases of products and services from African-based suppliers.

Culled from AFRITRAVELLER.COM