Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, has appointed Salil Nath as its General Manager for the Indian subcontinent.

There is a change in the leadership of Etihad Airways in India with the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates naming Salil Nath as its General Manager for the Indian subcontinent.

According to a press statement, based in New Delhi, Nath will be responsible for all commercial activities across a key cluster for the Etihad network within the central region, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Seychelles. Nath will be succeeding Neerja Bhatia, who is retiring after 18 years of service at Etihad Airways.

The statement adds that since joining Etihad in 2012, Nath has served as the Regional Sales Manager of key sectors starting with Bangalore-Hyderabad, followed by the North and East India. During the Covid-19 restructuring, he took on the additional responsibility of managing Central India as well as Bangladesh & Seychelles.

Prior to joining Etihad, Nath has worked with Kingfisher Airlines, part of the United Breweries Group, and a brief stint at renowned multinational travel management company Amex GBT, overlooking corporate sales and client servicing respectively.

‘‘India plays a crucial role in Etihad Airways’ growth strategy, contributing significantly to the airline’s global operations, and we are honoured to support demand in one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world. As we look to expand our operations, we are delighted to have Salil take up the new role, leading Etihad’s commercial activities in the region,’’ says Amer Khan, Vice President Middle East, Africa,  and the Sub-Continent, Etihad Airways.

Nath holds a degree in Hotel Management from Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration in Manipal, specialising in Sales and Marketing.

‘‘With a strong and growing network, Etihad is one of the world’s most recognised and trusted airlines, operating for almost 20 years. As I step into this new role, I look forward to working together, enabling growth, and delivering value as we take our positioning to new and greater heights,” says Nath.

“Neerja’s astute leadership over the years has been a defining factor for the growth of the airline in the Indian subcontinent. On behalf of Etihad Airways, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for Neerja’s unwavering support and dedication,” says Khan about Bhatia who is retiring.