Etihad earnings highlight success of Abu Dhabi’s aviation push

Etihad Airways capped a fourth straight year of profitability with record earnings in 2025, the carrier said, as rising passenger demand, fleet growth and a push into premium cabins boosted performance. The airline is planning up to 3,000 new hires a year and is steadily adding aircraft and new routes as part of an Abu Dhabi-wide aviation investment of $21.8 billion through 2030, Semafor reported, citing Manal Albarakati.

"Premium cabins were a key driver, with first and business class demand exceeding expectations," the airline said, describing a shift in revenue mix that helped lift results.

The results feed into Abu Dhabi’s broader ambition to sharpen its position as an aviation hub. Zayed International Airport handled a record 32.5 million passengers in 2025, reflecting the emirate’s concerted expansion of airline capacity and airport services. Etihad’s strategy combines network growth with higher-yield seating, and the carrier said it expects to maintain a steady pace of aircraft additions and route launches over the next several years.

An Etihad Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft takes off from Geneva airport. (Denis Balibouse/File Photo/Reuters)

Etihad’s announcement arrives amid intensifying competition across the Gulf aviation market. Emirates—still described in regional coverage as the world’s most profitable airline—saw Dubai International Airport handle more than 95 million passengers in 2025, underscoring the scale of Dubai’s lead in network traffic. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is preparing the launch of Riyadh Air and is continuing development of King Salman International as part of its own bid to establish additional regional hubs.

Etihad’s personnel and capital plans are notable in scale. The carrier indicated it will recruit up to 3,000 staff annually as it expands operations, aligning workforce growth with a fleet and route build-out that sits inside Abu Dhabi’s $21.8 billion aviation investment plan through 2030. Semafor’s report emphasized the airline’s repeated profitability streak—four years running—which the carrier has parlayed into new direct services and an emphasis on premium product offerings.

Outlook

• Network and fleet: Etihad expects to continue adding aircraft and routes over the next several years to support traffic growth and premium demand.
• Hiring: The airline plans up to 3,000 new hires annually to staff expanded services and operations tied to the emirate’s investment program.
• Competitive landscape: Emirates’ 2025 traffic of more than 95 million passengers and Saudi projects such as Riyadh Air and King Salman International will intensify regional competition for transfer and long-haul traffic.
• Investment horizon: Etihad’s growth is part of a broader $21.8 billion investment push in Abu Dhabi’s aviation sector through 2030, a central plank of the emirate’s hub ambitions.

Reporting for this account was based on Semafor’s coverage by Manal Albarakati.