Etihad Airways has celebrated the arrival of 1.6 million guests during February 2025, achieving a remarkable average passenger load factor of 89 percent. The airline reported that passenger traffic in the first two months of this year rose to 3.3 million, compared to 2.9 million during the same timeframe last year.
Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, stated, “Our passenger numbers in February saw a strong 14 percent growth compared to the same period last year, as we continue to be among the world’s fastest-growing airlines.” He added, “As our capacity continues to grow, it is pleasing to see we maintained our robust passenger load factor of 89 percent year-to-date, as we prepare for a busy 2025 with the launch of 14 new routes.”
Expansion supported by fleet growth
Neves mentioned that the airline’s ongoing expansion is driven by the growth of its operating fleet, which is approaching three figures, with additional deliveries anticipated throughout 2025. In January 2025, Etihad Airways welcomed 1.7 million guests, marking an 18 percent increase compared to the same period last year, with a passenger load factor of 89 percent, in contrast to 86 percent for January 2024.
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Strong financial performance in 2024
Etihad Airways recently unveiled its financial results for the full year 2024, demonstrating strong performance across all key metrics. The airline posted a profit after tax of AED1.7 billion ($462.8 million), driven by AED20.8 billion ($5.77 billion) in passenger revenue and AED4.2 billion ($1.1 billion) in cargo revenue, alongside significant improvements in operational efficiency. Total revenue saw a year-on-year increase of 25 percent, reaching AED25.3 billion ($6.9 billion). This growth was supported by exceptional performance in both passenger and cargo sectors. Passenger revenue surged by AED4.2 billion, reflecting a 25 percent increase compared to 2023, attributed to an expanded network and increased capacity. Cargo revenue also rose by 24 percent compared to the previous year, driven by enhanced capacity and volume, along with improved yields in the latter half of the year.
Record passenger numbers in 2024
The airline transported 18.5 million passengers last year, a remarkable 32 percent increase from the previous year, underscoring robust and sustained demand across its expanding network. This growth was fueled by a 28 percent year-on-year rise in Available Seat Kilometres (ASK) and an improved passenger load factor, reaching 87 percent in FY24 compared to 86 percent in 2023.
