If airlines had a league table for making headlines, Etihad Airways would be sitting smugly at the top. The Abu Dhabi-based carrier has not only reported its best-ever half-year profit, AED 1.1 billion (US$306 million), but has also carried a record number of passengers, proving once again that the Gulf aviation giants don’t just dream big, they deliver.
A Profit Worth Toasting
Etihad A321LR –Air to air
Profit after tax surged 32 per cent compared with last year’s period, driven by what Etihad calls “vigorous customer demand”. Translation? People are queuing up to fly, and Etihad is very happy to take their money. Revenue climbed 16 per cent to AED 13.5 billion (US$3.7 billion), while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (the dreaded EBITDA) rose 24 per cent to AED 2.7 billion (US$739 million).
Even the EBITDA margin, the accountant’s favourite yardstick, increased to 20 per cent. Airlines usually sweat blood to hit those kinds of margins.
Ten Million and Counting
Passenger numbers climbed 17 per cent year-on-year to 10.2 million in the first half of 2025. By early July, Etihad had passed a rolling 12-month milestone of 20 million passengers, twice the tally of 2022. Not bad for an airline that, not so long ago, was better known for trimming its sails than setting new speed records.
Load factor hit 87 per cent, a neat two points higher than last year. In plain English: more seats filled, more revenue banked, fewer empty rows.
Fleet Gets a Growth Spurt
Etihad’s fleet has cracked the 100-aircraft mark, adding more than 20 planes in the last 18 months alone. April saw the delivery of its sixth Airbus A350, while May welcomed back a seventh A380, the supposed dinosaur of the skies, now enjoying a quiet renaissance.
Then came July, when the airline took delivery of five aircraft in a single month, a record for Etihad. Among them was the much-hyped A321LR, kitted out with lie-flat Business Class seats and even First Class suites. Yes, you read that correctly: First Class on a narrow-body. The inaugural flight to Phuket in August clarified that Etihad intends to rewrite the book on medium-haul luxury.
Meanwhile, a deal for 28 new Boeing wide-bodies underlines that this isn’t just opportunistic expansion. Etihad is literally planning for the long haul.
The Route Map Explodes
As of June 2025, Etihad serves almost 90 destinations, with 27 new routes launched or announced this year alone. Abu Dhabi is positioning itself as more than just a fuel stop; it wants to be seen as a genuine gateway city.
His Excellency Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of Etihad Airways, beamed:
“With 27 new destinations launched or announced this year alone, Etihad is proud to help position Abu Dhabi as one of the most accessible and connected cities in the world.”
It’s a strategy that drives point-to-point traffic and ensures Abu Dhabi hotels, restaurants, and attractions get their fair share of the pie.
Service with a Smile (and Stats to Match)
Customer satisfaction has never been higher. The airline’s first-class net promoter score is 80, the best ever, and it is the figure most airlines would sell their galley trolleys for. Improvements in airport services, digital touchpoints, and in-flight experience are paying off, and crucially, Etihad has managed to hold its unit costs steady.
CEO Antonoaldo Neves couldn’t resist a victory lap:
“Our strong financial performance and continued passenger growth demonstrate the success of our strategy and the dedication of our people. We are expanding sustainably, investing in premium experiences, and bringing record numbers of visitors to Abu Dhabi.”
Powered by People
Behind every profit figure are people, and Etihad has been busy adding them. In the first six months of 2025, the airline hired 1,700 new staff, including 100 pilots and 1,000 cabin crew. Another 1,100 employees were promoted internally. According to Etihad, engagement levels are the highest they’ve ever been — no mean feat in a sector where long hours and high demands are the norm.
Neves was quick to point the finger of credit not at himself, but at the people in uniform and behind the desks:
“None of this would be possible without the passion and professionalism of our employees.”
What It All Means
Etihad’s results are more than just numbers on a balance sheet. They show an airline that has weathered its rough patches and is now striding confidently forward. With rivals like Emirates and Qatar Airways still commanding the lion’s share of attention, Etihad is proving it can carve its own path with wise fleet choices, bold network expansion, and a clear focus on premium service.
In aviation, fortunes can change faster than a Dubai weather report. But for now, Etihad is in full flight, cashing in on demand, building Abu Dhabi’s profile, and perhaps most importantly, reminding the industry that it’s a player to be reckoned with.
