Etihad reports 28% rise in November passengers

Etihad Airways has recorded another strong month of growth, carrying more than 2.1 million passengers in November 2025 – a 28% year-on-year increase and the highest monthly total achieved by the airline so far this year.

 

In the first 11 months of 2025, the Abu Dhabi-based carrier welcomed 20.2 million passengers on board, marking a 20% rise on the same period in 2024. Having already surpassed the 18.5 million guests carried in 2024, Etihad is on track to close 2025 with record annual passenger numbers.

 

Etihad’s strong performance reflects its expansion strategy driven by fleet and network growth. The airline’s fleet has risen 26% year-over-year to 124 aircraft, including four new Airbus A321LRs delivered in November. This added capacity has supported new routes to Medina, Tunis, Hanoi, Chiang Mai and Hong Kong in 2025.

 

The airline’s growth trajectory has also driven substantial recruitment across its operations. Etihad has added more than 2,600 new employees this year, including some 200 pilots, a strategic move as the region faces a looming talent shortage. According to consultancy Oliver Wyman, the Middle East will need an additional 10,300 pilots by 2030 to sustain rising demand.

 

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“These results demonstrate the hard work of our teams,” said Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways. “We’ve systematically built out our network, invested in our product, and our expanded capacity is bringing more visitors to experience all that Abu Dhabi has to offer.”

 

Earlier this year, Neves reiterated his long-term goal to grow the airline’s fleet to 200 aircraft and serve more than 38 million passengers annually by 2030, a target that aligns with Abu Dhabi’s own tourism ambitions.

 

Etihad’s strong performance mirrors Abu Dhabi’s growing profile as a major global tourism hub. The emirate continues to attract international attention with its world-class leisure and cultural offerings, including theme parks on Yas Island, flagship events such as the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and new cultural landmarks on Saadiyat Island. Among them is the Zayed National Museum, which opened its doors in December. 

 

Supporting this momentum, Abu Dhabi welcomed 3.2 million international overnight visitors in 2024 – a 28% increase on the previous year – and aims to reach 9.3 million annual visitors by the end of the decade.

 

For more information, visit etihad.com