Etihad passes safety audit with flying colours

The Abu Dhabi-based carrier was praised after a specialist team from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) examined in detail the airline's safety procedures and processes.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Operational Safety Audit - IOSA - seeks to ensure that airlines are compliant with safety requirements and recommended practices determined by IATA.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways' chief executive, said:

"Safety is and always will be Etihad's number one priority. To undergo this strenuous industry safety audit with no closing findings is a tremendous achievement and testament to the importance we attach to our safety culture."

Etihad gained IOSA accreditation in 2006 also with zero findings.

The audit is repeated with different standards every two years to ensure on-going compliance.

A team of six external auditors from IATA spent five days looking at more than 900 separate procedures and processes before issuing a very positive report.

Charl DuToit, lead auditor from IATA's IOSA team, added: "Etihad achieved a remarkably good result for the second time in a row. The IOSA audit team does not see results like this many times. Etihad did its homework and prepared the organisation very well for this complex project."

IOSA audits are mandatory for all IATA member airlines and require meeting 926 separate standards in areas including organisation and management, flight, cabin, ground and cargo operations, maintenance, flight dispatch and security.