Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, reported its preliminary traffic statistics. The airline carried in May 2024 1.5 million passengers and achieved an average passenger load factor of 84 percent for the month.
Antonoaldo Neves, chief executive officer of Etihad Airways, commented on the results. He stated that the airline had seen a 38 percent year-to-date increase in passengers, highlighting the strong positive growth trajectory. The year-to-date passenger count had reached 7.2 million, which was 2 million more passengers than the same period in 2023.
Read more: Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways carries 5.7 million passengers in 4 months
This contributed to maintaining a healthy year-to-date load factor of 85 percent despite a considerable increase in capacity compared to the same period in 2023, he added.
“Our rolling 12-month passenger numbers, to the end of May 2024, now stand at just over 16 million.”
Neves also noted that Etihad’s operating fleet size had risen by 15 aircraft year-on-year to 90, helping to fuel the airline’s growth. In May, the first of six expected Airbus A321neo aircraft was brought into operation in 2024.
These new, more fuel-efficient aircraft further boost the airline’s growing network and frequencies, and deliver a 20 percent fuel burn and CO2 emissions advantage, underscoring Etihad’s commitment to modern and environmentally-friendly aircraft, he highlighted.
On June 12, Etihad Airways and Cairo-headquartered Egyptair signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance commercial and operational ties, and provide travelers with wider choices, higher quality services and increased value.
Last week, Abu Dhabi-based airline and Shanghai-headquartered China Eastern Airlines signed a joint venture to cement the strategic partnership between the two carriers. The move marked the first commercial joint venture between a Middle Eastern airline and a Chinese carrier. The joint venture will allow the airlines to jointly develop and grow the routes between the UAE and China, resulting in a stronger combined network. As a result, passengers will enjoy expanded travel options and seamless travel experiences when travelling between major Chinese cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Xi’an, and Kunming, and key cities in the UAE and across the Middle East and Africa regions.
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