Etihad Airways continues to pass major milestones during 2008 - the airline’s fifth year of operation - with the news that the 500,000th customer has enrolled with the airline’s award-winning Etihad Guest loyalty programme.

To mark the occasion the Abu Dhabi-based airline awarded Mohammed Al Jurishy, the 500,000th Etihad Guest member, with 100,000 Etihad Guest miles.

“It is a fantastic achievement that 500,000 customers have joined the Etihad Guest programme in a little more than two years and congratulations to Mohammed for winning the 100,000 miles,” said Etihad Airways’ executive vice-president, marketing and product, Peter Baumgartner.

“I hope he enjoys spending the miles in the innovative Etihad Guest reward shop which has been specifically designed to offer our members maximum flexibility on how they spend their accrued miles, whether it is in the lifestyle, shopping or donations section.”

Etihad Guest was launched in August 2006 and has received industry-wide praise and awards for its innovative service including the multitude of rewards available to members.

“It was a great honour to be the 500,000th customer to join the Etihad Guest programme. I fly regularly with Etihad and should have joined earlier because it is so quick and easy to do online,” said Al Jurishy, who lives in Abu Dhabi.

“I haven’t decided yet what I’ll spend the miles on, but I’ll probably use them to take my wife and daughter to Jordan to see our family and friends.”

Members of Etihad Guest have also donated more than 600,000 ‘miles’ to humanitarian and environmental charities and projects across the world through the scheme’s reward shop. – TradeArabia News Service