Etihad Airways plans ambitious expansion: Abu Dhabi hub in focus

Etihad Airways aims to capitalize on the opportunities arising from congestion at Dubai Airport to generate more business for its base in Abu Dhabi, thereby enhancing its position in the highly competitive long-haul market in the Gulf region. The airline's ambitious goal is to increase passenger numbers from 13 million to 30 million by 2030 by encouraging more travelers to stop over in Abu Dhabi on their long-haul flights. The airline's CEO, Antonoaldo Neves, suggests that this is feasible given the current capacity bottlenecks in Dubai. Dubai Airport, which handled an impressive 87 million passengers in 2023, may soon reach its limits. Alternatively, Abu Dhabi is emerging as a new aviation hub in the United Arab Emirates. Although Etihad faces major competitors such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines, the company strives not to compete directly with them on ultra-long-haul routes. Instead, it focuses particularly on routes within a four to five-hour range from Abu Dhabi. Regarding the aircraft shortage, Neves remains optimistic, seeing little risk of overexpansion. Nevertheless, the possibility of taking the airline public through an IPO in Abu Dhabi is being considered. Etihad is planning a $7 billion expansion but is not reliant on external capital. In the currently tense political climate in the Middle East, Etihad, like other airlines, has suspended some flights. The decisions are influenced by the company's own risk assessments and external security information.