Etihad Airways assists in repatriation of OFWs from Saudi Arabia

Manila Bulletin
June 17, 2011, 2:26am

MANILA, Philippines — Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has been assisting the Philippine government with the repatriation of hundreds of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

A big group of 241 Filipino returnees arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on June 7 on board Etihad Airways, 47 Filipinos on June 9, and 26 OFWs on June 14, also on board Etihad Airways, or a total of 314 Filipinos, including children and infants.

The repatriation of the OFWs and their families followed talks between Etihad Airways Chief Executive Officer James Hogan and Vice President Jejomar ‘‘Jojo’’ Binay during the former’s visit to the Philippines recently, and came after the Vice President, who is also the Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers’ Affairs, secured the returnees’ repatriation from Saudi authorities.

Hogan said Etihad Airways was pleased to lend its support to such an important humanitarian cause.

“We’re honored to have been invited by the Philippine government to assist with the return of the Filipino workers and their families. These flights are the first of several flights we have committed to in support of the government’s repatriation efforts,” Hogan said.

He said what made the homecoming last June 7 wherein a big batch of OFWs and their children was flown even more significant was that it coincided with national celebrations in the Philippines of Migrant Workers Day.

In an earlier press statement referring to Etihad’s participation in the repatriation, the Vice President said: "I am glad that the private sector is helping us bring our ‘kababayans’ home. I hope we would see more of this partnership in our future repatriation efforts."

Roberto Hukom, Gulf Air Philippines country manager; Connie Marquez, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Repatriation head; and other government officials were on hand to welcome and assist the arriving OFWs and their children last June 7.

Last May, Etihad Airways also helped in bringing back several repatriated OFWs and their children from Saudi Arabia.

Etihad Airways is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and operates from its home base and hub in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE. It serves 68 cities in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and North America with a modern fleet of 57 Airbus and Boeing aircraft. Etihad has also a code-share partnership with Philippine Airlines (PAL).