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