Photo Credit: X/@emirates
Dubai, UAE — February 2026 — Etihad Airways has announced its strongest full-year financial and operational performance in the airline’s history, marking the fourth consecutive year of profitability for the Abu Dhabi-based carrier.
The airline reported a profit after tax of AED2.6 billion ($698 million) for 2025, representing a substantial 47 percent increase compared to the previous year. The profit margin improved to 8.4 percent, significantly outperforming the industry average net profit margin of 3.9 percent as estimated by IATA in December 2025.
According to the Emirates News Agency, total revenue surged by 21 percent year-on-year to reach AED30.7 billion, driven by expansion across both passenger and cargo operations. Passenger revenue climbed 24 percent to AED25.8 billion, supported by increased capacity, sustained demand, improved load factors and stronger yields.
The airline carried 22.4 million passengers during the year, facilitated by a 21 percent capacity increase with available seat kilometres reaching 111.5 billion. Operational performance strengthened considerably, with EBITDA increasing by 37 percent to AED6.3 billion, translating into an EBITDA margin of 20 percent.
Strong profitability translated into robust cash generation, with cash flow from operations approaching AED8 billion This enabled Etihad to fully fund its capital expenditure requirements for the year while simultaneously deleveraging its balance sheet.
The group’s strengthened financial position received external validation in December 2025 when Fitch awarded a second consecutive credit rating upgrade to AA-, the highest publicly available rating among global airline peers.
“2025 has been a defining year for Etihad, delivering our strongest performance across every key metric and marking our fourth consecutive year of profitability,” said Antonoaldo Neves, chief executive officer of Etihad Airways.
The airline continued to grow point-to-point and stopover traffic to Abu Dhabi, with point-to-point traffic increasing by 900,000 passengers to reach 5.5 million, up from 4.6 million in 2024. The stopover programme welcomed 170,000 visitors, more than double the 80,000 recorded in the previous year.
Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa, chairman of Etihad Airways, attributed the success to strategic vision and execution. “Etihad’s record 2025 performance reflects the strength of its long-term strategy and the quality of execution delivered by its leadership and people,” he said.
The carrier’s growth accounted for approximately 50 percent of total passenger growth across the UAE, based on projected airline traffic performance, underscoring Etihad’s central role in supporting Abu Dhabi’s tourism, trade and broader economic ambitions.
This contribution was driven by the largest expansion year in Etihad’s history. The airline added 29 aircraft during the year, growing its operating fleet to 127 aircraft, which enabled increased frequency, expanded capacity and broader global reach to and from Abu Dhabi. The network expanded from 94 to 110 destinations, while total landings rose from 90,000 to more than 105,000.
Workforce expansion accompanied the operational growth, with more than 3,200 new joiners welcomed and approximately 2,200 employees promoted during 2025. Frontline hiring remained a priority, with around 1,600 cabin crew and almost 400 pilots joining the airline, supporting capacity growth while maintaining service quality and operational resilience.
Internal talent development continued apace, with approximately 1,500 cabin crew promotions and nearly 150 pilot promotions during the year. Etihad’s workforce in 2025 represented 152 nationalities, reflecting the airline’s diverse, global operating footprint.
