Etihad Airways has announced the promotion of three Emiratis at the airline's airport destinations as part of the Government owned airline Emiratization program.

Emiratization is an initiative by the government of the United Arab Emirates to employ Emirati citizens in the public and private sectors.

Omar Al Memari has been named Etihad Airways’ airport manager at San Francisco Airport and Khaled Al Mazrouei has been named assistant airport manager at Los Angeles Airport. Rashed Al Sharji, has been appointed assistant airport manager for Etihad Airways in Cairo.

More than 190 Emirati citizens currently hold airport management positions at Etihad Airways’ destinations in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas.

Geert Boven, Etihad Airways’ senior vice president, airport services, said: “Etihad Airways is pleased to announce the appointments of Omar, Khaled and Rashed to key positions within the airline in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Cairo. 

"Their appointments will greatly support the continued growth and success of our US and Egypt operations.”

Prior to his appointment to airport manager, Omar Al Memari was assistant airport manager at San Francisco Airport. He joined Etihad Airways in 2010, he was duty manager in Sydney, Geneva and Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C.

In his new role, he will be responsible for Etihad’s day-to-day operation at San Francisco, and the airline’s liaison with airport authorities, local government agencies and third-party service providers.

Khaled Al Mazrouei was promoted to assistant airport manager at Los Angeles from graduate manager, airport operations, he will be responsible for airport operations and guest services.

He began his career at Etihad Airways in 2013 in the graduate management development program, now named future leaders program, he was trained in airline's operational departments from check-in to boarding. Khaled was based at O’Hare International Airport, Chicago .

Rashed Al Sharji joined Etihad Airways in 2009 as a ground services agent for VIP, Hajj and Umrah operations at Abu Dhabi airport. He was then assigned as airport duty manager in Inchon in South Korea before moving to Cairo and appointed to his new post of assistant airport manager.