Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways announced Tuesday that its annual net profits climbed dramatically by almost 50%, reaching $698 million last year, driven by fleet growth and rising passenger demand across global markets.
The Middle Eastern carrier’s CEO Antonoaldo Neves attributed the financial success to strategic investments and expansion efforts. “We’ve been investing a lot in our product, in customer satisfaction. We’ve been growing a lot, adding capacity, right?…So I would say it’s a combination of efforts,” Neves explained to Reuters.
The airline transported 22.4 million passengers in 2025, marking a 21% increase from the previous year. During this period, Etihad grew its fleet to 127 aircraft by acquiring 29 new planes from Boeing and Airbus manufacturers, while also bringing its A380 aircraft back into operation.
Looking ahead, Neves expressed optimism about continued market strength, particularly in premium travel segments. “Our load factors were 88% last year,” he noted. “We’re getting many, many days of 90% this year. We wouldn’t have that if economy was not strong as well.”
The CEO highlighted that newly established markets are exceeding expectations. “I think the great news that we have is that the new markets are performing much better than we thought … they’re maturing much, much more quickly than we actually anticipated,” he said, though he didn’t specify which regions.
During 2024, Etihad introduced service to several new destinations, including Prague, Hanoi, and Hong Kong. For the current year, the airline intends to continue expanding its presence in China, Southeast Asia, and European markets.
Despite industry-wide challenges with aircraft manufacturing delays affecting both Boeing and Airbus, Neves said Etihad remains focused on maintaining its aircraft upgrade schedule while working with manufacturers on delivery timelines.
“So far, I mean, I wouldn’t say it’s amazing … but it’s improving,” Neves commented, adding that the carrier anticipates receiving approximately 20 additional aircraft this year, mostly from Airbus.
