Etihad Airways was created by the government of Abu Dhabi (one of the seven emirates that makes up the United Arab Emirates), in July 2003 with a capital base of $136m, and launched its first regional services in November of that year, initially with two A330-200s dry leased from Brazilian airline TAM, and with a staff of 150. Since then Etihad (union in Arabic) has grown steadily, with almost one new destination every month, and today it employs around 1,000 and operates to 27 destinations out of Abu Dhabi -eight in the Middle East, eight in the Indian subcontinent, seven in Europe (Brussels, Frankfurt, Geneva, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Manchester and Munich), and long-haul services to Toronto, Bangkok, Manila and Johannesburg.
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