An Etihad Airways Airbus A340-600 on Thursday performed a low-altitude aerial salute to Sydney Opera House as part of the iconic venue's 40th birthday celebrations. The aircraft operating the commemorative flight - EY9240 - flew at approximately 2000 feet over the World Heritage-listed venue and along the Sydney Harbour foreshore at 10:50 am (Australian Eastern Summer Time). The fly past was watched by more than 10,000 people who had gathered at Sydney Opera House for a special 'Cake and A Song' event to celebrate the venue's actual birthday.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways' President and Chief Executive Officer said: "As a partner of Sydney Opera House we are delighted to be part of its 40th birthday celebrations. "On behalf of the Etihad Airways' 16,500 staff world-wide, I extend our best wishes to the Government of New South Wales, Sydney Opera House Trust, and the people of Sydney on this special occasion.
"We are immensely proud to be the official international airline of Sydney Opera House and to support its mission to create, produce and present the most acclaimed, imaginative and engaging performing arts experiences from Australia and around the world." In command of the historic flight on A6-EHK (the aircraft registration) was chief pilot of the airline's A340/330 fleet, Captain Giorgio Evangelisti. He was joined in the cockpit by Captain Gregory McCarthy and First Officer John Redward.
The Abu Dhabi-based airline is a major partner of the world-renowned performing arts venue which is famously located at Bennelong Point on the Sydney Harbour foreshore. Its sponsorship of Sydney Opera House is the airline's most valuable and most significant arts and cultural investment world-wide-PR
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