Image credit: WAM/Website
Etihad Airways, the flag carrier of the UAE, has announced impressive growth in its passenger traffic for May 2025, demonstrating ongoing expansion and strong demand from travelers.
During May, the airline transported 1.7 million passengers, which is a 19 percent rise compared to the same month in the previous year. This surge highlights Etihad’s strategic growth initiatives and enhanced market presence. The passenger load factor increased to 87 percent from 84 percent in May 2024, emphasizing the airline’s capability to efficiently manage capacity while fulfilling rising demand, as reported by WAM.
Fleet Expansion Achieves 100 Aircraft
Etihad’s operational fleet has now reached a total of 100 aircraft, which bolsters its expanding international network and continuous service improvements. From January to May 2025, the airline served 8.4 million passengers, reflecting a 17 percent increase compared to the same timeframe in 2024. The average load factor for this period remained strong at an impressive 87 percent.
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Antonoaldo Neves, the Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, remarked that the airline is gaining momentum.
“We are pleased to report continued growth in our operations, with passenger numbers in May climbing by 19 percent year-on-year, reaffirming our status as the fastest-expanding airline in the Middle East,” Neves stated. “Our year-to-date metrics show over 8 million travelers have chosen Etihad in 2025, and our accumulated figure over the last 12 months is nearing 20 million, which reflects the confidence customers have in our services.”
“May marked an exciting benchmark for us as we reached a fleet size of 100 aircraft. As we work on broadening our route offerings and increasing our fleet in the forthcoming months, our priority remains to provide customers with an outstanding and seamless travel experience.”