Etihad Airways achieved record profits last year as passenger numbers grew by a third over 2023 levels.
The Gulf carrier reported a net profit of £371 million, supported by a £909 million increase in passenger revenue to £4.5 billion alongside “significant operational efficiency improvements”.
The third consecutive year of profit was more than three times higher than 2023 as passenger carryings rose 32% from 14 million to 18.5 million.
The Abu Dhabi airline saw total revenue rise by 25% to £5.5 billion as capacity grew by 28% and the passenger load factor nudged up one percentage point to 87%.
This came as the airline expanded its schedule to more than 1,700 weekly flights and increased frequencies on 25 routes over the past two years.
More than 20 new destinations were added to the network and alongside 12 aircraft and the re-entry into service of a fifth Airbus A380 superjumbo.
Employee levels grew by more than 2,000 to reach over 11,000 in the year.
Etihad Airways chairman Mohammed Ali Al Shorafasaid: “We extend our gratitude to our guests and the dedicated Etihad family for allowing us to realise our ambitions and consistently delivering the reliable, best-in-class service that defines our operations.
“The unwavering commitment of our team has strengthened our airline, boosting efficiency while consistently improving our exceptional customer experience.
“As we expand our network and enhance our offerings, we remain focused on connecting more people with Abu Dhabi and supporting the Emirate’s tourism ambitions, fulfilling our vision to be the airline that everyone wants to fly.”