Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has paid tribute to 75 employees who have been with company since the start of operations 10 years ago.

At a celebratory dinner reception at the Westin in Abu Dhabi, executives from the airline’s senior management team handed out recognition medals and certificates to the founding staff members.

The 10-year employees have forged careers, which span all parts of the business, with many in key roles in areas such as operations, finance, strategy and planning, commercial and HR.

Etihad Airways Chief People and Performance Officer Ray Gammell said: “On behalf of the entire senior management team of Etihad Airways, it is my enormous privilege to be able to thank our staff for 10 years of dedicated service and incredible commitment to our business.

“They have been the constant driving force behind our efforts to create a best-in-class airline, an airline that has today truly brought Abu Dhabi to the world.”

Etihad Airways Vice President Government and International Affairs Abdul Qader Hussein Ahmed, himself celebrating ten years with the airline, reminisced of being the first person to go inside the airline’s very first aircraft, an Airbus A330, after it had touched down in Abu Dhabi.

He said: “I was honored to do so by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saif Al-Nahyan, founding chairman of Etihad Airways.”

In just ten years, Etihad Airways has grown its global work force to more than 17,000 people, and the carrier expects to reach 20,000 staff members by December 2014.