ETIHAD CONFIRMS TOYIN ALARAN AS COUNTRY MANAGER IN UGANDA
(Posted 12th June 2015)
Mr. Toyin Alaran has according to information received yesterday been confirmed as Etihad’s Country Manager in Uganda.
Based in Kampala will he lead his team who are responsible for establishing and developing a working relationship with corporate clients and key partners in the travel and tourism trade.
They have the challenge of growing the airline’s presence and operations in Uganda, following the launch of flights on the 01st of May this year into an already crowded market from the Gulf. Emirates, Qatar Airways and FlyDubai are offering daily services from their hub airports to Uganda, while Etihad, initially expected to operate on a daily basis is currently only flying to Entebbe four times a week. This may be prudent in terms of first building up load factors but is by common consensus in Uganda seen as a detriment when it comes to daily connectivity as is offered by Etihad’s main competitors from the Gulf.
With more than 24 years’ experience in the travel industry did Mr. Toyin join Etihad Airways last year as Sales Manager for Nigeria, before being appointed Acting General Manager for Uganda ahead of the launch of flights. Prior to joining Etihad Airways, he also worked at Air France / KLM, which included such positions Regional Sales Manager for West Africa based in Ghana, and as Head of Sales in Nigeria.
Danny Barranger, Etihad Airways’ Senior Vice President, Global Sales, said: ‘I am delighted that Toyin will be leading our team in Uganda to grow our business there. His extensive commercial experience and successful track record in the African aviation industry will be invaluable as he continues to develop awareness of Etihad Airways and the ‘best in class’ travel experience it provides its guests.Uganda is a welcome addition to our growing network of popular destinations around the world and the opening of this new route provides travellers with greater choice and flexibility when travelling to or from the East African region’.
Commenting on his appointment, Toyin was quoted to have said: ‘I am excited about the opportunity to develop Etihad Airways’ presence in Uganda because it is one of Africa’s fastest-growing business and tourism destinations. I look forward to continuing to work closely with our commercial partners to develop the business, and to ensure our guests are provided with exceptional value and service whenever they fly with us’.
Etihad Airways’ flights are operated by a two-class Airbus A320 aircraft, with 16 Business Class and 120 Economy Class seats. It provides travellers with a nonstop between Entebbe and Abu Dhabi and onward connections to destinations in the Gulf region, to Europe, America but also to the Indian Subcontinent, to North Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia.
Etihad began operations in 2003 and in 2014 carried 14.8 million passengers. From its Abu Dhabi base does Etihad fly to over 100 destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas. The airline operates a fleet of 116 Airbus and Boeing aircraft and has more than 200 aircraft on firm order, including 69 Boeing 787’s, 25 Boeing 777-X, 62 Airbus A350s and 8 Airbus A380’s.
Etihad is known as an airline which has developed its own model of global cooperation, outside the main airline alliances, through equity investments in airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Jet Airways, Virgin Australia, and Swiss-based Etihad Regional, operated by Darwin Airline.
