Etihad Airways and Alitalia welcomed 100,000th guest to their joint pavilion at Expo Milano 2015

ABU DHABI, 2015-8-10 — /Travel PR News/ — Official Expo Milano 2015 sponsors Etihad Airways and Alitalia celebrated a major milestone by welcoming the 100,000th guest to their joint pavilion at Expo Milano 2015.

Italian national Luigino Nonino, accompanied by his family, was the lucky 100,000th visitor to the pavilion. To mark the occasion, the Nonino family was presented with tickets to return to Expo, an Airbus A380 model aircraft, and was invited to dinner at the exclusive pavilion lounge. The family also enjoyed a guided tour of the pavilion and the new Etihad Airways and Alitalia cabin and service products including The Residence by Etihad.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways Chief Commercial Officer, said: “The popularity of this amazing pavilion has exceeded our expectations, and in welcoming our 100,000th guest in the short period since we unveiled it to the world, we also celebrate the successful collaboration between two great airlines creating a showcase of airline innovation.

“We are delighted that we have been able to design and bring to reality a unique space which serves as a place of entertainment, culture, education and international friendship, and which translates it all in a quintessentially Etihad and Alitalian way.”

Ariodante Valeri, Chief Commercial Officer of Alitalia, said: “We are very proud of the success of our pavilion with so many visitors. To welcome thousands of people from around the world, in a context that is so unique, innovative and international, is the best way to present Alitalia and the partnership we have with Etihad Airways. Such recognition and appreciation confirms that we are on the right track.”

The two-storey Etihad Airways and Alitalia pavilion has a prime location next to Palazzo Italia and measures 1,150 square metres.

The spectacular venue boasts a Social Hub, which provides a multimedia experience around the theme of ‘Connecting the World Journey’, using cutting-edge technology and large interactive screens, and an impressive Imagination Lounge hosting several daily cooking demonstrations by Etihad Airways’ on-board Chefs and celebrities, including Italy’s Gabriele Rubini, famously known as Chef Rubio, and the UAE’s Chef Khulood Atiq.

The pavilion also features three fully operational flight simulators and a dedicated Kids Area, packed with interactive games, an augmented reality experience, and Oculus Rift virtual reality headsets which provide users with a 360º fully immersive experience of some of the exciting destinations Etihad Airways and Alitalia fly to. These include Abu Dhabi, New York, London, Tokyo, Bangkok and Buenos Aires.

As Official Global Carriers of Expo Milano 2015, Etihad Airways and Alitalia are playing a key role in bringing visitors to the event.

– ENDS –

For more information contact:

Etihad Airways
Duty Media Officer
Corporate Communications
Tel: + 971 (0) 50 818 9596
Email:  dutymediaofficer@etihad.ae

Alitalia
Corporate Affairs
+39.06-65638950
Email. media@alitalia.com

About Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways began operations in 2003, and in 2014 carried 14.8 million passengers. From its Abu Dhabi base, Etihad Airways flies to or has announced plans to serve 111 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas. The airline has a fleet of 117 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and more than 200 aircraft on firm order, including 66 Boeing 787s, 25 Boeing 777-X, 62 Airbus A350s and six Airbus A380s.

Etihad Airways holds equity investments in airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Aer Lingus, Alitalia, Jet Airways, Virgin Australia, and Swiss-based Darwin Airline, trading as Etihad Regional. Etihad Airways, along with airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Etihad Regional, Jet Airways and NIKI, also participate in Etihad Airways Partners, a new brand that brings together like-minded airlines to offer customers more choice through improved networks and schedules and enhanced frequent flyer benefits.  For more information, please visit: www.etihad.com

About Alitalia
Alitalia – Società Aerea Italiana (alitalia.com) is Italy’s largest airline and commenced operations on January 1, 2015 after acquiring the operational activities of Alitalia – Compagnia Aerea Italiana, now named CAI. CAI has a 51% controlling stake in Alitalia and the remaining 49% of shares are owned by Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates. As part of its 2015 summer schedule, Alitalia flies to 102 destinations, including 27 Italian and 75 international destinations, with a total of 164 routes and about 4,500 weekly flights. Alitalia boasts one of the most modern and efficient fleets in the world with an average age of eight years. It is a member of the SkyTeam alliance and is part of the Transatlantic Joint Venture alongside Air France-KLM and Delta Air Lines. Alitalia also collaborates with the other Etihad Airways Partners – airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Etihad Airways, Etihad Regional operated by Darwin Airline, Jet Airways and NIKI – in order to offer customers more choice through improved networks and schedules and enhanced frequent flyer benefits. Alitalia and Etihad Airways have been named Official Global Airline Carriers of Expo Milano 2015.

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