Etihad appoints new China Country Manager

Mr Tang joins the Abu Dhabi-based airline from Aviation Partner, a general sales agency that he co-owned and which represents foreign airlines in China.

Mr Tang said: "It is a privilege to join Etihad Airways at this exciting time when the airline has just started its first operations into the fast-growing Chinese market. I am pleased to be working with the airline's China team and look forward to expanding the business further."

Mr Tang joins Etihad with nearly 20 years aviation industry experience. He started his career with Singapore Airlines, where he carried out a variety of roles including market research, revenue management, corporate sales, marketing and operations. While at Singapore Airlines he was posted to work overseas in Hong Kong, Spain, Portugal, Vietnam and China, where his last position was senior manager marketing for Northern China.

Before starting his own business, Mr Tang was Area Manager for Eastern and Southern China at Qatar Airways, where he oversaw all business development, sales and marketing, customer servicing and financial activities of the airline's Shanghai and Guangzhou offices.

Geert Boven, Etihad Airways' executive vice president sales and service, said: "It is great to welcome Tang to Etihad Airways. He brings with him a wealth of experience in the aviation industry, which will be crucial in the development of Etihad in the Chinese market."

Mr Tang will be based in the Chinese capital of Beijing and report directly to Joost den Hartog, Etihad's new regional general manager (RGM) for the Indian sub-continent, Central and North Asia.

Etihad started services to Beijing on 30 March 2008. It flies four times a week to the Chinese capital.