Etihad Airways has announced that it will debut its innovative mobile exhibition unit at this week’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai, providing delegates with a first-hand experience of its cabin products and inflight service.
The 16m-long mobile exhibition unit, weighing approximately 22 tonnes and measuring 50sq m, travelled to the UAE from Europe where it has clocked 60,000km in 18 months, having visited trade events and exhibitions across Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, the UK, the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium and Spain.
The UAE’s national airline will also host Halima Aden, the American fashion model and icon, on its stand.
Somalia-born Halima will take part in a live Q&A session in the theatre section of the stand, where she will discuss Etihad’s partnerships with the world of fashion.
Fatima al-Ali, the ice hockey-playing Emirati, will also take part in a live Q&A session on the stand. Fatima shot to fame late last year when she was “discovered” by NHL legend Petr Bondra who was in Abu Dhabi for an ice hockey camp.
Her story made global headlines when Etihad flew her to Washington, DC and she met her NHL heroes.
Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ CEO, said: “The 2017 ATM will have an increased level of excitement for Etihad Airways as the event will see the regional debut of our innovative mobile exhibition unit. It is the world’s first and only airline mobile exhibition unit and will ensure the Etihad stand is a must-see for ATM delegates.”
The mobile exhibition unit includes full-size mock-ups of The Residence, the world’s only three-room cabin on a commercial airline, and the First Apartment, both of which are currently onboard the airline’s A380 fleet, as well as the First Suite from Etihad’s Boeing 787 aircraft, the airline has said in a press statement.
Painted in Etihad’s ‘Facets of Abu Dhabi’ corporate colours, the mobile exhibition unit also features the airline’s Business Studio and Economy SmartSeat.
Etihad’s stand will promote the airline’s campaigns to “connect the world via Abu Dhabi” as well as several “winning partnerships” the airline has with the fashion industry and annual Fashion Weeks, City Football Group, the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Taste Festivals.
There will be live cooking demonstrations from Etihad chefs and a major highlight is set to be the liquid nitrogen ice-cream giveaway to delegates at the “ATM Cooldown”.  The ATM 2017 runs today until April 27.