Etihad Ready for IPO, No Immediate Cash Need, Says CEO

Etihad Airways is ready for an initial public offering (IPO) but currently has no urgent need for new capital, according to CEO Antonoaldo Neves. Speaking to Bloomberg during the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, Neves said the final decision on the listing rests with the airline’s sole shareholder, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund, ADQ.

Etihad, fully owned by ADQ, is part of a portfolio that also includes Abu Dhabi Airports and Wizz Air Abu Dhabi. While reports from March suggested a potential IPO could take place in Q2 2025 to raise USD1 billion, Neves emphasized that the airline remains financially strong and self-sufficient for now.

In a separate interview with Reuters, Neves said Etihad has been seeing robust passenger demand despite global trade tensions linked to U.S. tariff policies. He noted that a stronger euro has increased travel demand from Europe, further boosting performance. “About 60% of our planes are unencumbered, so if a crisis comes, I can park aircraft and instantly cut 75% of costs,” Neves added.

Etihad expects to expand its fleet to 170 aircraft by 2030, adding around 20 planes annually. It will also begin operating the A321-200NX(LR) in Q3 2025.

As of now, Etihad’s fleet includes a mix of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, such as A320s, A350-1000s, A380s, and 787 Dreamliners. In 2024, the airline reported AED25.3 billion (USD6.9 billion) in revenue and AED1.7 billion (USD463 million) in profit, driven by passenger and cargo growth along with improved efficiency.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com