Laura Glading

National President
Association of Professional Flight Attendants
1004 West Euless Boulevard
Euless, Texas 76040
Dear Ms. Glading
I would like to take this opportunity to respond personally to the allegations made within your open letter to Ms.
Nicole Kidman earlier this week.
Firstly, on a professional level and as a fellow senior executive within the aviation industry, I am quite shocked
that a person with your level of expertise and familiarity with our industry would publish such comments
without first properly researching and confirming the facts which are readily available. Etihad Airways is one of
the most forward-thinking and fastest-growing airlines in the world because of its outstanding products, which
are delivered on modern aircraft by enthusiastic staff, who enjoy working for an innovative, young airline. Our
incredible cabin crew hail from more than 140 nationalities and benefit from state-of-the-art training, company
medical insurance, transport, uniforms and fully furnished quality company accommodation made available to
them in our home city of Abu Dhabi.
Your claims regarding the treatment of female employees are not only completely offensive, they are
outrageously inaccurate. Our cabin crew represent a culturally diverse, talented group of professionals who
receive the full support of Etihad Airways both during and after their training.
Should one of our cabin crew choose to start a family, our policy provides them with paid ground duties for the
duration of their pregnancy. Qualified cabin crew are also provided with maternity leave and all flying positions
remain open for our cabin crew to return upon completion of their maternity leave, should they choose to do so.
As for your statement that Etihad forces flight attendants to live in confinement in secure compounds, this is
once again, not only offensive but incorrect. Our crew are provided with world-class company accommodation in
various locations around the city of Abu Dhabi. Our crew can enter and leave the facilities whenever they
choose with no alleged curfews in operation. Family and friends are welcome to visit and even reside with the
crew for short periods or holidays within Company policy guidelines. We remain committed to continuing to add
to, improve and enhance our current facilities and offerings for our cabin crew to ensure they are world-class
and worthy of the high standard of hospitality our cabin crew deliver every day to the guests traveling with us
onboard.

On a personal level, I am incredibly disappointed that you would use your stature to wield false accusations with
no basis in fact to tarnish and slander our airline. I view this as a failure of your responsibility to both the
Association of Professional Flight Attendants and female leaders within the aviation industry. Indeed, it is your
unfortunate and erroneous comments that threaten to most damage the growth and advancement of women
within our industry.
We will continue to respond to and correct false reports and ill-informed attacks, such as yours, on our airline
with the facts.
I also would like to extend a personal invitation to you to visit our facilities, meet our employees, and see
firsthand the Etihad Airways environment and culture.

Yours sincerely,

Linda Celestino
Vice President Guest Services
Etihad Airways