The UAE's Etihad Airways achieved a profit after tax of AED 2.6 billion (about US$698 million) in 2025, growth of 47% year on year, while its profit margin improved to 8.4%, up 1.5% year on year.
A press release published on the Etihad Airways website explained that this is more than double the global aviation industry's average net profit margin of 3.9%, according to estimates by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued in December 2025.
The airline's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization rose 37% year on year to AED 6.3 billion (about US$1.7 billion), with a margin of 20%, up 2% year on year.
Passenger Numbers
Etihad carried 22.4 million passengers in 2025, achieving 21% year-on-year growth in operating capacity, with available seat kilometers reaching 111.5 billion. Demand maintained strong momentum across the network's markets, with the passenger load factor rising to 88.3%, up 2% year on year, reflecting the execution efficiency of Etihad's teams.
Revenue
This growth was reflected in strong revenue performance, with total revenue rising 21% year on year to AED 30.7 billion (about US$8.4 billion), driven by strong expansion in both the passenger and cargo sectors.
Passenger revenue rose 24% year on year to AED 25.8 billion (about US$7 billion), reflecting higher operating capacity, continued strong demand, improved load factors and higher yields.
Cargo revenue also rose 8% to AED 4.5 billion (about US$1.2 billion), supported by increased capacity and higher cargo volumes, which grew 9% to exceed 700,000 tons. The growth of the passenger fleet boosted cargo performance by increasing belly capacity, strengthening Etihad's integrated passenger and cargo operating model.
Thanks to this capacity expansion, along with its joint venture with SF Express, Etihad became the largest cargo operator between mainland China and the Middle East, operating more than 100 cargo flights a month.
For his part, Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, explained that 2025 was a defining year for the airline, as it achieved its strongest-ever performance across all key indicators and recorded its fourth consecutive year of profitability. He added that these results confirm the success of our strategy based on sustainable growth, strengthening our financial position and continuing to deliver a high-quality experience to our customers.
Passengers via Abu Dhabi
Etihad continued to strengthen direct and transit passenger traffic via Abu Dhabi in 2025, with direct passenger traffic growing by 900,000 passengers year on year, rising from 4.6 million in 2024 to 5.5 million.
The airline's stopover program also saw exceptional demand, attracting 170,000 visitors, more than double the 80,000 recorded in 2024. This rapid growth strengthens Etihad's pivotal role in supporting Abu Dhabi's tourism ecosystem by attracting more international visitors and increasing hotel stays, driven by the continuous expansion of its network.
For his part, Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of Etihad Airways, stated that Etihad's growth in 2025 accounted for nearly 50% of total passenger growth in the UAE, according to the expected performance of air traffic nationwide, confirming the airline's pivotal role in supporting tourism, trade and Abu Dhabi's broader economic ambitions.
Fleet
This contribution was driven by the largest expansion in Etihad's history, with 29 aircraft added to the fleet during the year, raising the operating fleet to 127 aircraft, enabling higher flight frequencies, expanded operating capacity and wider global reach to and from Abu Dhabi.
Destinations
Thanks to this fleet growth, Etihad expanded its network from 94 to 110 destinations, while total landings rose from 90,000 to more than 105,000 flights. The expansion focused on opening new international markets and strengthening direct access to Abu Dhabi across Europe, Asia, Africa and North America.
New routes were also launched from key tourist source markets, including Atlanta, Prague, Warsaw, Addis Ababa, Phnom Penh, Hanoi and Hong Kong, helping strengthen Abu Dhabi's global connectivity and boost visitor flows to it.
To view the post on the Etihad Airways website, click here.
