Etihad Reports Record 2025 Profit as Expansion Delivers Results

Etihad Airways announced that it delivered the best full-year performance in its history for 2025.

Operating performance got stronger, with EBITDA of AED 6.3 billion (US$1.7 billion) and an EBITDA margin of 20 percent. The airline said its profit margin reached 8.4 percent, more than double IATA’s estimated global airline net profit margin.

What changed vs. last year: Etihad became bigger and more profitable

Compared with 2024, Etihad’s 2025 results show a clear jump in both scale and earnings.

• Profit after tax rose from AED 1.7 billion (US $476 million) to AED 2.6 billion (US $698 million.
• Total revenue increased from AED 25.3 billion (US $6.9 billion) to AED 30.7 billion (US $8.4 billion).
• Passenger numbers grew from 18.5 million to 22.4 million.

Etihad also significantly expanded capacity while improving efficiency. Its 2025 release reported ASK of 111.5 billion and a load factor of 88.3 percent, while the 2024 release showed ASK of 92.5 billion and a load factor of 87 percent. In simple terms, Etihad added many more seats and still filled a larger share of them.

Why this matters for the travel industry

This result stands out because airlines often grow traffic while struggling to improve margins. Etihad increased capacity, carried more passengers, and still improved efficiency, with the load factor rising to 88.3 percent. That suggests strong demand, disciplined network planning, and effective pricing.

The result also matters for the wider travel market because strong performance from a major Gulf carrier can support more route launches, airport growth, and tourism flows. Etihad sees continued strong demand in 2026, including premium demand, which supports its expansion plans.

What drove the result: fleet, network, passenger growth, and cargo

Etihad’s 2025 performance was driven by expansion across the business. The airline said passenger revenue rose to AED 25.8 billion (US$7.0 billion) and cargo revenue increased to AED 4.5 billion (US$1.2 billion). It also said cargo benefited from more belly-hold capacity as the passenger fleet expanded.

Etihad grew its operating fleet to 127 aircraft after adding 29 aircraft in 2025 and expanded its network from 94 to 110 destinations. It also highlighted new routes, including Atlanta, Prague, Warsaw, Addis Ababa, Phnom Penh, Hanoi, and Hong Kong.

Why Abu Dhabi benefits and what comes next

Etihad said point-to-point traffic to Abu Dhabi rose to 5.5 million in 2025, up from 4.6 million in 2024, while its stopover program grew to 170,000 visitors, more than double the previous year. That means Etihad’s growth is helping bring more travelers into Abu Dhabi, not only through it.

Looking ahead, Etihad says demand remains strong, and it plans further expansion in China, Southeast Asia, and Europe in 2026. The airline expects around 20 aircraft deliveries this year, but supply chain and delivery delays remain a key risk to how quickly it can grow.

Etihad’s expansion story also continues beyond the 2025 results. Charlotte gets its first nonstop connection to the Middle East as Etihad moves forward with the launch, highlighting how the airline is still adding strategic long-haul routes in the US market while building Abu Dhabi’s global connectivity. This supports the view that Etihad is using its stronger financial position to keep expanding, not just to protect existing routes.

Photo by Stroopsniper Lenn on Unsplash