Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has announced a historic achievement by surpassing 20 million passengers within a 12-month period for the first time in its history. This milestone underscores the airline’s robust and sustainable growth in its operations.
This accomplishment is supported by exceptional performance figures from the beginning of 2025 until the end of July, where the airline welcomed 12.2 million passengers, reflecting a 17% increase compared to the same period in 2024. The load factor remained strong at 88%, an improvement from 86% last year.
In July alone, Etihad Airways served approximately 2 million passengers, marking a 19% growth from the previous year when 1.7 million guests were transported. This consistent growth highlights the strategic expansion of the airline and its strong market presence, with the passenger load factor rising to 90% compared to 89% in July 2024, further enhancing Etihad’s ability to increase capacity while maintaining high demand.
Currently, Etihad’s fleet consists of 111 aircraft, supporting its growing network of 81 passenger destinations, up from 76 the previous year. These figures showcase the airline’s ongoing investment in fleet development and route expansion.
Antonioaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, attributed this growth to the trust customers place in the airline’s services and the strength of its network, noting that the sustained increase reflects a successful commitment to enhancing its global destination count.
He also mentioned that the airline continues to expand its fleet, having welcomed its first long-range Airbus A321LR single-aisle aircraft in July. Additionally, five new planes have joined Etihad, including two Boeing 787s, one Airbus A350-1000, and one Airbus A320.