Etihad Airways Focuses on Capacity Growth in 2025 Expansion
Etihad Airways is preparing for a major expansion in 2025, with 13 new destinations already planned for the coming year. However, most of the airline’s growth will focus on increasing capacity on existing routes, according to CEO Antonoaldo Neves. Speaking at a press conference following the announcement of 10 new routes, Neves emphasized that 80% of the airline’s capacity growth in 2025 will come from destinations it already serves.
“We are betting on destinations that we are flying today,” Neves said, adding that the new destinations will only account for 20% of the airline’s overall capacity increase. Currently, Etihad operates flights to approximately 80 destinations from its hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH).
A significant part of Etihad’s growth will be in Europe, where the airline is adding substantial capacity. Arik De, Etihad’s chief revenue and commercial officer, confirmed that capacity to Europe will increase by 40% in both 2024 and the first half of 2025. This growth is part of the airline’s strategy to strengthen its role as a key connection point between Europe and Asia.
“In the past, we only had London Heathrow with more than one flight a day,” said De. “Now, destinations like London, Dublin, Manchester, Geneva, Frankfurt, Munich, Brussels, Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, Zurich, and Milan will all be double-daily in 2025.” Etihad is also considering additional routes to Europe, with De noting that the network team is analyzing 25 potential new destinations, although not all will come to fruition.
Looking ahead, Etihad’s focus remains on growing its European network. De added that CEO Neves has set a target of adding 10 new European routes annually. “We are building on the European growth we’ve already invested in, especially for traffic going east,” he explained.
Supporting this expansion is a need for more aircraft. While many of the new routes are set to launch in the second half of 2025, delays in aircraft deliveries mean that Etihad is adjusting its fleet planning. De explained that many of the planes originally scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2025 will now arrive later, leading the airline to implement a “3-6 month buffer” for these new routes.
As Etihad continues to expand, it is also looking to capitalize on the strong growth in the Gulf region. Neves highlighted that air traffic in the Gulf is growing at over 10% annually, driven by the expansion of airlines like Air India, IndiGo, and Akasa. Etihad is forecasting a 35% increase in passenger traffic this year, far outpacing the UAE’s overall 12% growth rate.
De also noted the UAE’s rising status as the top aspiration destination for Indian travelers, with many Indians now considering the UAE their number one travel destination. “The economic and demographic trends are very strong,” he said, adding that the region’s growth provides optimism and ambition for the future. Etihad, Emirates, and Qatar Airways are all growing profitably, and the outlook for the Gulf’s aviation sector remains positive.
Related News : https://airguide.info/?s=Etihad+Airways