Tourism & Hospitality | Wednesday 20 May, 2015 12:52 pm |

Etihad Airways and Alitalia welcomed His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates, to their joint pavilion at Expo Milano 2015 this week.

The airlines are Official Global Airline Carriers of Expo Milano 2015, which takes place under the theme of ‘Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life’ from 1 May until 31 October. A total of 20 million visitors are expected to attend from across the world, with Alitalia and Etihad Airways’ pavilion serving as a highlight of the Expo experience.

HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan was given a tour of Etihad Airways and Alitalia’s two-storey pavilion by Abdul Qader Hussein Ahmed, Etihad Airways Vice President Government and International Affairs, and members of the airline’s Emirati graduate management program, who are part of the onsite team at Expo Milano 2015.

Highlights of the ground floor, which is open to all visitors, include a multimedia Social Hub and an Imagination Lounge, where cooking demonstrations are conducted by celebrity chefs. In addition, visitors can test their pilot skills on two fully operational flight simulators, while a Kids Area is packed with interactive games, an augmented reality experience, and a 360° Collective Map with Oculus Rift technology.

An exclusive lounge on the first floor provides a luxurious and comfortable environment for selected guests to relax and experience the airlines’ award-winning products first hand. Breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets are prepared daily by professional chefs in the dining area, and a meeting room is also available for private business meetings.

As Official Global Airline Carriers, Etihad Airways and Alitalia are also playing a key role in bringing visitors to Expo Milano 2015, with an estimated eight million attendees travelling to the event by air. For further information on flights and packages, please visit alitalia.com or etihad.com, contact the airline’s call centres, or book via travel agencies.