Etihad welcomes UAE's first local female captain

Abu Dhabi : Etihad Airways has made history by promoting one of its few female pilots to captain. Aisha Al Mansoori was a first officer for Etihad until being promoted to captain recently. She is the first female captain to fly for Etihad and is the first female airline captain native to the UAE. 
Her promotion ceremony was held at Etihad's crew briefing center. Her family, along with colleagues and airline executives, were in attendance. 
Since joining the airline in 2007, she has set multiple milestones for the airline. Over two decades, she has gained sufficient experience and knowledge to become a qualified captain for the airline. 
She will begin her new schedule as captain on August 28th. 
Al Mansoori joined the airline as a cadet in 2007. In 2010, she graduated from training and embarked on her first airline flight as a first officer aboard an Airbus A320. Through years of dedication and hard work, she gained the necessary knowledge, skills, and flight time to become a captain at Etihad. This was the second major accomplishment she made for women in aviation. She previously became the first UAE national female pilot to fly the Airbus A380. 
Al Mansoori's historic feats will help pave the future for females in aviation in the UAE and the Middle East. Etihad has shared how it is proud to help Al Mansoori achieve her goal of becoming a captain and further women's roles in aviation in its home nation. 
The Chief Operating Officer of Etihad Aviation Group, Mohammad Al Bulooki, stated, Etihad is extremely proud of Captain Aisha's achievement and the trailblazing role she is playing for women in aviation in the UAE. She will no doubt be the first of many, and Etihad looks forward to welcoming more female pilots to the rank of Captain in the future. 
At the ceremony, Al Mansoori, said, "I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to join Etihad's Cadet Pilot programme and grow my career over the years with Etihad. I am thankful for the tremendous support I have received from my instructors at Etihad and for their guidance through my training, which has shaped my skills and prepared me for the rank of Captain."