Batool Ghaith (ABU DHABI)
Etihad Airways is prioritising sustained profitability and a major expansion of its fleet and network as it keeps the possibility of an initial public offering open for the future.
Speaking to Aletihad on the sidelines of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), Dr Nadia Bastaki, Chief People, Government and Corporate Affairs Officer, said strong financial performance would be key to any potential listing.
Etihad recorded a profit after tax of Dh2.6 billion in 2025, up 47% year-on-year, marking its fourth consecutive profitable year.
“It is important that any airline has great financial results and great profit margins. We have to be ready for the unexpected, whether we want to IPO, but for now we are focusing on making sure our results, expansion and strategy are going in the right direction,” she explained.
Fleet Expansion to Support Wider Network
The airline is planning a significant fleet build-up to support its network ambitions, Bastaki said the carrier expects to receive around 20 aircraft a year.
“At this ATM, we have launched our A330 aircraft, which is the new mid-haul to long-haul wide-body aircraft that is going to come in 2027,” she said, noting that 15 A330 aircraft are expected to join the fleet from next year.
The airline’s wider Beyond Borders strategy includes a $20 billion investment over 10 years in new aircraft, enhanced products and the guest experience, alongside plans to grow its global network to more than 150 destinations.
Route decisions, however, will continue to be driven by passenger demand, she said, as Etihad’s strategy has long centred on connecting India and the GCC with Southeast Asia, while the next phase will increase the airline’s attention on other growth markets.
“Starting from March 2027, our focus is going to be on expanding our presence in China and in Africa,” Bastaki noted.
The airline is also seeking greater consistency in the passenger experience as its fleet expands.
Bastaki said the newly presented Beyond Borders experience would eventually extend across the airline’s aircraft, bringing together elements ranging from wellbeing to service delivery and Emirati identity.
She said Etihad also plans to introduce a First Class offering across its aircraft as it develops a more consistent product proposition.
Bastaki said that maintaining the connection to Abu Dhabi and the UAE is particularly important as the Etihad becomes a significantly larger international airline.
She said the Emirati identity would be reflected through the airline’s service, its onboard ambassadors, the overall look and feel of the experience and the development of UAE national talent within the company.
As Etihad expands, Bastaki said success over the next decade would not be measured only by the size of the fleet or network. “Our success will be becoming the airline that everybody wants to fly,” she said.