The Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways stated on Monday that the airline's passenger capacity exceeds levels from a year ago as Middle Eastern carriers recover from disruptions caused by the start of the war between the US and Israel against Iran, which affected revenue this year.
At its Abu Dhabi base, Etihad's standard industry metric for passenger capacity—available seat kilometers—has increased by 15%–17% compared to last year.
CEO Antonoaldo Neves also reported that the load factor, which reflects the degree of seat occupancy, reached 92% in August. The airline aims to achieve a load factor above 87% by the end of the year. He noted in an interview with Reuters: 'We are back on the right track.'
The war with Iran disrupted flights in the Middle East and beyond for several weeks after it began at the end of February, but Middle Eastern carriers, some of which are among the world's largest, are gradually resuming operations.
Etihad forecasts that revenue this year will remain at the same level as in 2025 due to airspace closures in March and April, while profitability is expected to be almost zero.
Neves added that changes in travel patterns are also linked to trade disputes and visa restrictions. He pointed to a decrease in traffic from India to Canada and the US, including students, stating: 'You have a global situation. I mean the decisions made by the US and Canada regarding visas, that affects us here.'
Neves expressed optimism about the upcoming winter season, although he mentioned that demand is changing, and people are increasingly making last-minute bookings, which echoes similar views from competitor Emirates.
Furthermore, he reported that the airline is generating cash for investments in its fleet. Earlier on Monday, Etihad unveiled a new cabin design for first, business, and economy classes on its existing Airbus A321 LR aircraft, as well as on A330 aircraft, which, according to Neves, may be delivered in the middle of next year.