Etihad widens fleet push amid rebound

Etihad Airways is ordering more widebody aircraft as the Abu Dhabi carrier moves to restore momentum across long-haul markets and lift flying by about 8 per cent from year-earlier levels by 15 June.

Chief executive Antonoaldo Neves said the airline was buying widebody planes in double digits, though he declined to identify the manufacturer, aircraft type or exact number. The remarks, made on the sidelines of a global airline industry gathering in Brazil, point to a fresh phase in Etihad’s expansion as Gulf carriers race to secure scarce delivery slots and capture rising intercontinental demand.

The planned purchase comes as Etihad works to strengthen its position from Zayed International Airport, where Abu Dhabi is seeking a larger share of transit, premium and inbound tourism traffic. Widebody aircraft are central to that strategy because they support higher-capacity services to Europe, North America, Asia and Australia, while also giving the carrier more cargo space on passenger flights.

Neves said the airline expects to be flying about 8 per cent more than a year earlier by mid-June, signalling confidence that demand remains resilient despite pressure from fuel costs, regional airspace disruption and aircraft delivery bottlenecks. He also indicated that the carrier has no current plan to cut capacity as a cost-saving measure, with empty seats seen as a bigger financial risk than maintaining operations through a volatile market.

Etihad’s latest move follows a period of disciplined expansion after years of restructuring. The airline has shifted away from the aggressive equity-alliance strategy of the past decade and focused instead on network growth, aircraft utilisation and profitability. Its turnaround has given management greater room to pursue fleet investment while avoiding a return to the costly expansion model that once weighed on its balance sheet.

The carrier reported a strong 2025 performance, with net profit reaching about $698 million, passenger numbers rising to 22.4 million and fleet size expanding to 127 aircraft. Load factor stood near 88 per cent, reflecting robust demand across key markets. The airline added aircraft during the year, brought more Airbus A380 capacity back into service and continued to open routes in Europe and Asia.

Etihad has already placed sizeable orders and commitments as part of its long-term growth plan. A 2025 agreement covered 28 Boeing widebody aircraft, including 787s and 777X jets, with deliveries expected from 2028. The airline also moved to add Airbus A330-900 aircraft, additional A350-1000s and A350 freighters, reinforcing a fleet strategy built around flexibility across passenger and cargo markets.

The new widebody order under discussion appears to sit within a broader ambition to grow the fleet towards 200 aircraft by 2030, above an earlier target of about 170. Such growth would allow Etihad to expand beyond its current network, deepen frequencies on high-yield routes and improve connectivity through Abu Dhabi as the emirate develops tourism, financial services, advanced industry and logistics.

The timing is significant. Airlines worldwide continue to face aircraft shortages caused by production delays at Boeing and Airbus, engine supply issues and longer maintenance turnaround times. Carriers with strong balance sheets have been trying to secure aircraft years ahead of delivery, while lessors have benefited from high demand for widebody and narrow-body jets. Gulf airlines, which rely heavily on long-haul transfer traffic, are especially exposed to delivery delays because widebody capacity determines how quickly they can scale global networks.

Etihad’s expansion also comes as regional competition intensifies. Emirates remains the largest long-haul carrier in the Gulf, Qatar Airways continues to invest heavily in its fleet and network, and Saudi Arabia is building Riyadh Air as part of a wider push to turn the kingdom into a major aviation and tourism hub. Against that backdrop, Etihad is seeking to grow without repeating the overstretch that marked earlier phases of its history.

Abu Dhabi’s upgraded airport infrastructure provides the platform for that push. Zayed International Airport has increased capacity sharply and gives Etihad room to add routes, improve passenger handling and compete more directly for premium traffic. The airline’s ability to fill larger aircraft will depend not only on transfer demand but also on Abu Dhabi’s success in attracting visitors, business travellers and conferences.