Etihad Airways Partners Taste Festivals

Etihad Airways is showcasing its commitment to remarkable culinary experiences – inflight and in its airport lounges – through a new multi-year partnership with Taste Festivals Ltd, organisers of the world’s leading restaurant events since 2004.

The airline, together with a number of its Etihad Airways Partners, will have a presence at 15 Taste festivals throughout 2016. The global showcase kicked off this week with three signature events – Taste of Sydney, Taste of Hong Kong and Taste of Dubai.

The airline will also participate in Taste festivals in Amsterdam, Johannesburg, London, Milan, Melbourne, Moscow, Paris, Perth, Rome and Toronto, and its home, the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi.

Shane O’Hare, Etihad Airways’ Senior Vice President Marketing, said: “Aligning with Taste Festivals is a natural progression for a global airline whose mission is to provide remarkable service and hospitality to millions of guests. We deliver this promise through a highly acclaimed culinary offering and a food philosophy that constantly pushes the boundaries to provide superior guest experience.

“Taste provides us with a platform to highlight our dining innovation across all cabins and in our spectacular lounges. We draw inspiration from the best restaurants and emerging chefs from culinary capitals worldwide, and serve it with the style and sophistication that has become synonymous with the Etihad Airways brand.”

Added Justin Clarke, Director, Taste Festivals: “We are delighted to be in partnership with Etihad Airways. Their commitment to being the world’s leading culinary airline is both exciting and a testament to the logical brand fit between Etihad Airways and Taste Festivals. We look forward to working with Etihad to communicate their current service and to inspire future innovation.”

Taste Festivals Limited and Etihad Airways are developing a ‘Taste the World’ initiative to recognise emerging culinary talent from each of the 13 Taste festivals outside the UAE. The winners will each receive a trip to Taste of Abu Dhabi from 3 – 5 November 2016, where they will compete against the airline’s own Inflight Chefs in a display of culinary skill.

Etihad Airways was recently honoured by Air Transport World as 2016 Airline of the Year, and is the recipient of numerous awards for the high standard of its inflight dining.

In Etihad Airways First Class, Inflight Chefs, many of whom have trained at fine-dining restaurants the world over, use their culinary expertise to deliver a highly personalised à la carte dining experience, tailored to each guest’s taste. Equipped with a pantry of fresh ingredients, they are also able to go ‘off menu’ and offer a made-to-order meal.

In Business Class, expert Food and Beverage Managers oversee the preparation and service of a contemporary, healthy à la carte and dine anytime menu. They can also recommend the perfect beverage from the airline’s boutique inflight cellar

Etihad Airways currently has 235 Inflight Chefs and 495 Food and Beverage Managers, delivering a hospitality experience in First and Business Class for which the airline is world-renowned.