The airline in a statement issued form Abu Dhabi said, Gammell, who currently is the group's chief people & performance officer, assumes full management responsibilities from Yesterday .
"It is not a secret that Lufthansa has always been and remains an opponent of state subsidies," Carsten Spohr said at a joint press conference in Abu Dhabi with Etihad chief James Hogan.
The government-owned carrier said the move is part of a "transition process" initiated by its board and Hogan last year.
Addressing the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Aviation Day in Abu Dhabi, Hogan said Etihad Airways' successful partnership strategy could become a model for other players.
"India is a crucial market not only for Etihad Airways but the UAE itself and therefore we welcomed the opportunity to become a founding member of the UAE Business Council in India," James Hogan, Etihad Airways president and chief executive officer, said in a statement yesterday.
Initially, six airlines will participate in the new partnership - airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Jet Airways, Darwin Airline and Etihad Airways. However, any airline can become an Etihad Airways Partner even if it is part of an existing alliance
Etihad Airways is expanding operations in India with more flights and wide-bodied jets, building on its deal with Jet Airways as it eyes growth in one of the fastest growing markets.
Etihad Airways expects a USD 600 million investment in Jet Airways to be cleared by Indian authorities imminently, as it further extended a deadline for regulatory approval that ended on August 31, the Abu Dhabi carrier said on Sunday.
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad has a unique airline-cum-airport strategy that is likely to change the way Jet operates. It promises to be an interesting partnership
The Jet-Etihad deal has already missed its original deadline of July 31 and the two parties are now keen to complete it before the new deadline of August 31 and their rush is evident from their legal and regulatory advisors working over time on weekends as well, he added.
Etihad Airways' purchase of a stake in Jet Airways could be delayed until at least August as the Abu Dhabi carrier seeks assurances following setbacks for several Gulf investors in India, two sources familiar with the talks said.
Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways, close to a tie-up with India's Jet Airways , expects to complete due diligence on the deal in the next week, the Gulf carrier's chief executive said on Monday.
It is picked up from sources that the announcement could be deferred by a few days, but the board is likely to clear all the details today.
The Board members of Etihad are likely to meet this week to finalise their India investment plan, exclusive sources told CNBC-TV18. The Abu--Dhabi based carrier may consider proposal from Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines who are keen to offload minority stakes in their companies.
Shares of Jet Airways rose around 6% to Rs 612 on media reports that Abu Dhabi-based Etihad will pick up 24 percent stakes in the carrier for around Rs 1,800 crore within ten days.