Etihad Airways has paid tribute to 75 employees who have been with company since the start of operations 10 years ago. At a celebratory gala dinner at the Westin in Abu Dhabi, executives from the airline’s senior management team handed out recognition medals and certificates to the founding staff members.

In 10 years, Etihad Airways has grown its global workforce to more than 17,000 people, and the carrier expects to reach 20,000 staff members by December 2014.