The UAE's Etihad Airways has announced that it is operating 300 scheduled passenger flights a day in 2025, the highest rate in the company's history and an increase of more than 20% compared with last year, in a move that reflects the strong growth the company is witnessing this year.
The company said in a press release published on its official website that this performance makes it one of the fastest-growing full-service airlines in the world, driven by a robust operating system, continued high demand for its services and the ongoing expansion of its global network.
All 300 flights stand out as scheduled passenger flights, strengthening Etihad's role in connecting customers and cultures and reflecting Abu Dhabi's position as one of the world's most connected and accessible travel hubs.
Captain Majed Al Marzouqi, Chief Operations and Guest Experience Officer at Etihad Airways, said the company continues to expand its network of destinations, strengthen its fleet and develop its workforce, as part of its vision to be travelers' airline of choice. He noted that this achievement reflects one of the fastest growth trajectories in the global aviation industry and is owed to the commitment of employees and the trust of customers.
He added that year-on-year growth across various key performance indicators reflects the expansion of the company's growing network and Abu Dhabi's position as a global aviation hub, stressing that growth is not limited to operations alone, but extends to include people and the customer experience.
In September 2025, Etihad carried 1.9 million passengers, an increase of 21% compared with the same month last year, while maintaining a high load factor of 89%. The company also carried 16.1 million passengers in the first 9 months of this year, up 18% year on year, reflecting continued strong demand and the efficient deployment of its operating network.
The company also maintained record levels of customer satisfaction, consistently recording a high Net Promoter Score, reflecting its ability to uphold exceptional standards amid rapid growth.
This record was supported by a major expansion of the company's operating network, as capacity rose last September by 25% compared with the same period last year, driven by fleet growth and the launch of new destinations in key markets.
During 2025, Etihad announced 31 new destinations, including Medan in Sumatra, Phnom Penh in Cambodia, Addis Ababa in Ethiopia and Krabi in Thailand, bringing the number of its global destinations to about 90. Its flights in the European market also rose by 35% during the summer season compared with last year.
The company's operating fleet rose to 115 aircraft, compared with 96 aircraft in September 2024, in one of the strongest growth years in its history. This includes the addition of new Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft and the return of two additional A380 aircraft, as well as the introduction of new A321LR aircraft offering First Class suites and Business Class seats that convert into fully flat beds, providing a luxury travel experience with new standards on medium-haul flights.
Zayed International Airport supports this significant growth through its modern infrastructure, which offers capacity of up to 45 million passengers a year and 65 gates. Advanced biometric systems and streamlined procedures also allow travelers to move from curb to boarding gate in less than 12 minutes, while premium lounges add distinctive value to every stage of the journey, strengthening Etihad's ability to deliver a seamless and integrated experience in parallel with the expansion of its global network.
In the first half of 2025, more than 1,700 new employees joined Etihad Airways, including more than 100 pilots and 1,000 cabin crew members, while more than 1,100 employees were promoted across the company's various departments, in a move that reflects continued expansion and efforts to invest in human capital to support future operational growth.
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