The Abu Dhabi-based airline launches flights to Moscow on 1 December, and has decided to appoint a dedicated executive to oversee commercial operations across the Russian market.

Rhodes joined Etihad in 2006 and has supervised the airline’s establishment of commercial operations to the Philippines and Indonesia. Previously he held a range of posts at British Airways, including 10 years based in Russia during the 1990s. In total, he has more than 40 years of experience in civil aviation across 30 countries worldwide.

Etihad has said it will mark the start of its five weekly flights to the Russian capital with reduced introductory fares.