Today's Edition
SADEQ ALKHOORI (ABU DHABI)
Etihad Airways recorded the strongest year-on-year increase in scheduled seat capacity among the UAE's major airlines in February 2026, according to recent figures released by OAG. This places the Abu Dhabi-based carrier at the forefront of national aviation growth for the month.
OAG data shows that Etihad scheduled approximately 1.25 million seats as at February 25, marking a 21.7% increase compared with the same month last year. This was the highest growth rate among the four largest UAE carriers tracked in the dataset, representing the most pronounced percentage expansion during the reporting period.
Emirates retained its position as the country's largest airline by total scheduled capacity, deploying close to 3 million seats in February, up around 3% year-on-year. While the Dubai-based carrier continues to lead in overall scale, the comparative figures reveal a clear divergence in growth momentum across the market.
flydubai scheduled approximately 1.2 million seats, reflecting annual growth of 9.6%, while Air Arabia increased capacity by 14.7% to roughly 853,000 seats, according to OAG.
The contrast between scale and acceleration tips the scales of the competitive hierarchy when measured by growth velocity rather than total capacity. Although Emirates maintains leadership by volume, Etihad's double-digit rise positions it as the fastest-expanding UAE carrier in percentage terms in February.
The rise in seat deployment signals renewed momentum in Abu Dhabi's aviation sector and underscores the emirate's expanding weight within the UAE's connectivity landscape.
At a broader level, the combined capacity growth across UAE carriers consolidates the country's position as one of the Middle East's busiest and most competitive air transport hubs.
The data reflects scheduled capacity rather than actual passenger traffic, yet the figures collectively indicate continued upward movement in national airline deployment across the reporting period.
