Emirates and Etihad Airways start hiring again

Two UAE carriers – EmiratesEmirates and Etihad AirwaysEtihad AirwaysLoading… – have started their recruitment drives again after a period of consolidation and a hiring freeze, owing to the global economic slowdown, according to a report by Flight International, an aviation magazine.
Both the carriers had frozen headcounts in order to control costs in the wake of significant declines in yield brought in by the downturn.
‘ President Tim Clark was quoted by Flight International as saying that the “economic meltdown” has resulted in “possibly a three- to five-year paradigm shift in the way yields have dropped”.
The carrier, which employs 27,000 people (including divisions that support other parts of the group), ceased recruiting in February/March this year. Flight International quoted Clark as saying says that with “growth, in terms of aircraft induction, continuing apace the lines crossed in September and we’re recruiting 494 cabin crew between now and February”.
He added that flightcrew hiring has also restarted.
Etihad’s Chief Executive Officer James Hogan on the other hand, said: “The challenge all year has been yield. We’re seeing yields in some sectors pushed down to 2006-7 levels.” He was quoted as saying this in a report. Etihad, meanwhile, is adding 11 single- and twin-aisle aircraft during the 2009 calendar year, but then enters a period of consolidation with only four additions in 2010 and four in 2011, as per the report, with deliveries beginning in 2012 of the 100 aircraft ordered at last year’s Farnborough air show.
01/10/09 Shweta Jaina Emirates Business 24-7/Zawya