Passenger traffic up 18 percent for Etihad in first nine months

ABU DHABI, 14 October 2025: Etihad Airways carried 16.1 million passengers in the first nine months of 2025, marking an 18 percent increase compared with the same period last year, according to figures released by the airline on Monday. In September, Etihad transported 1.9 million passengers, reflecting a 21 percent year-on-year rise. The monthly passenger load factor a key measure of seat occupancy reached 89 percent, up one percentage point from the same month in 2024. Etihad’s fleet stood at 115 aircraft at the end of September, operating flights to 82 passenger destinations worldwide.

The carrier’s expanding network and increased operational capacity supported the growth in passenger volume, which continued into the post-summer travel period. Chief Executive Officer Antonoaldo Neves said the September figures maintained the momentum achieved during the summer, with consistent performance across core operational and commercial indicators. He noted that the airline is maintaining high load factors and operational stability as capacity increases. The national airline of the United Arab Emirates recently launched four new international routes: Krabi in Thailand, Medan in Indonesia, Phnom Penh in Cambodia, and Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.

These destinations became operational in the same week and recorded full inaugural flights. The launches are part of a broader route network expansion initiated earlier this year. Over the past 12 months, Etihad has introduced or announced service to 31 destinations. Among the most recent additions are scheduled flights to Kabul, with other upcoming routes planned to cities including Palma de Mallorca, Zanzibar, and Damascus. The expansion brings the airline’s global reach to new and returning markets across Asia, Africa, and Europe. Etihad reported a net profit of AED 1.12 billion for the first half of 2025, covering the period from January through June.

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The airline carried 10.2 million passengers during those six months, representing a 17 percent increase compared with the same period in 2024. According to its mid-year financial results, Etihad saw year-on-year improvements in passenger revenue, load factor, and aircraft utilization. The airline also cited increased efficiency in its fleet operations, with greater deployment of next-generation aircraft supporting both sustainability and cost targets. In the nine months through September, passenger demand remained steady across key markets, particularly in Asia and the Middle East. The airline continued to focus on maintaining service reliability, achieving high on-time performance and aircraft availability rates throughout the third quarter.

Etihad’s traffic results place it among the region’s leading carriers in terms of growth during 2025. The company’s year-to-date performance underscores the strength of Abu Dhabi as a transit hub and the airline’s capacity to support increasing travel demand through enhanced connectivity. With 82 destinations currently served and additional launches scheduled for the final quarter of the year, Etihad has continued to scale operations to match demand while maintaining operational discipline. The airline is expected to close the year with further increases in total passenger numbers compared with 2024, as global air travel continues its recovery across major international routes. – By Content Syndication Services.