Q: Congratulations on being named the world’s safest airline. What does the accolade mean to Etihad?
A: Being named the world’s safest airline is a significant achievement for Etihad and a true testament to the hard work, exceptional standards and unwavering commitment of our entire team – from executives and pilots, to engineers, cabin crew and ground staff.
We are extremely proud to be the first Gulf carrier to receive this accolade, as recognition of our engrained safety culture, operational standards and investments we’ve made to continually level up our capabilities.
Safety will always remain a top priority for the airline and this award inspires us to keep raising the bar.
Q: You’ve also just celebrated a record year in terms of passengers carried. What is Etihad doing right in order to generate such impressive numbers?
A: Our record passenger numbers, up 21% year-on-year, reflect our focus and commitment to both meet and exceed customer expectations: delivering punctuality, a premium product, personalised Emirati hospitality and acting as a trusted partner when travel plans change.
Our growth strategy centres on carefully matching capacity with demand, while maintaining strong load factors across the network.
By growing our fleet to 127 aircraft in 2025, alongside adding routes and frequencies where demand is strongest – including Addas Ababa, Atlanta, Nairobi, Prague & Warsaw and more, we are able to keep pace with the needs of our guests.
The introduction of the A321LR enabled us to extend our premium product to more markets, while continued investment and refinement in services and the customer experience further strengthened passenger satisfaction.
Our performance reinforces alignment with Abu Dhabi’s tourism ambitions, contributing to the emirate’s growing global appeal and excellence.
Q: Your fleet is also at record numbers. Why is it important to add extra aircraft and will this policy continue?
A: A larger fleet gives us the scale and flexibility to support our expanding global network without compromising on performance.
It enables us to respond quickly to demand, optimise aircraft deployment across seasons and ensure we’re offering the right product in the right markets.
The 29 aircraft added in 2025 have strengthened our ability to grow frequencies, introduce new destinations and extend our premium product to more routes and guests.
Q: For someone who hasn’t flown with Etihad yet, what kind of experience can they expect onboard?
A: From the moment you step onboard either our B787 or A350 from Australia’s major hubs, or our flagship A380 beyond Abu Dhabi to London or Paris, every detail is designed with comfort, style and privacy in mind.
Guests can expect exceptional service across all flight classes, that transforms a journey into a truly memorable experience.
At Etihad, we believe luxury travel isn’t just about the distance you fly, it’s about how well you’re looked after.
Our cabins set a new standard of comfort, featuring thoughtful touches such as Giorgio Armani pyjamas and integrated wireless charging in business class and carefully curated amenities and noise cancelling headphones in economy.
Onboard, passengers can savour signature dishes inspired by destinations around the world such as French toast, shakshuka, burrata with tomato and braised beef short ribs, while enjoying a carefully curated selection of refreshing non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages.
Entertainment is at your fingertips, with hundreds of hours of movies, TV shows, music, podcasts and games, complemented by the latest aircraft technology, including Wi-Fi, to keep you connected throughout your journey.
Every aspect of the journey is designed to feel effortless, reflecting our commitment to guests and delivering the warmth and personalised hospitality that is distinctly Emirati.
Q: You have strong links with Australia. How important is the Australian market to Etihad?
A: Australia is a key market for Etihad and our latest investments reflect that. We’ve introduced our newest cabin products on the Airbus A350 in Sydney and the Boeing 787-9 in Melbourne, delivering greater privacy, comfort and capacity.
In Sydney, the A350 now operates 10 times weekly, replacing the B777 and features 44 fully enclosed Business Suites.
Melbourne is now served daily by our newest B787-9 Dreamliner, including Etihad’s next-generation Business Suites with a customised Collins Aerospace Elements seat – launched in 2024 as a world first on the B787.
These upgrades also strengthen connectivity via Abu Dhabi to Europe, the Middle East and beyond. Ultimately, we want travel to and from Australia to have a luxury feel and be consistent across every journey.
Q: Looking ahead, what exciting developments or plans does the airline have for 2026?
A: Etihad is expanding its global network in 2026, with more than 100 destinations already served and we expect to go to over 120 by the end of the year.
These strategic routes strengthen key markets, meet growing travel demand, and reinforce Etihad’s commitment to delivering world-class journeys.
Additionally, as part of the European 2026 summer schedule, we’re significantly enhancing our seasonal network with exciting new destinations and increased frequencies to the popular holiday hotspots.
From mid-June we’ll add Palma de Mallorca and Krakow on the A321LR while, Zanzibar and Berlin will be A320neo additions.
This expansion builds on the strong performance of returning seasonal routes to Malaga, Mykonos, Santorini and now includes an upgraded Nice service, increasing from two to four flights per week and transitioning to the new A321LR aircraft.
Q: Finally, is it your ambition to one day be crowned the world’s best airline?
A: At Etihad, our ambition is always centred on delivering a world-class guest experience that reflects the warmth and generosity of Emirati hospitality and the spirit of Abu Dhabi.
We are focused on raising standards across every touchpoint of the journey from safety and reliability to innovation, connectivity and seamless luxury travel.
While accolades are never the goal in themselves, being recognised as the world’s best airline is certainly something we continue to work towards as we set new benchmarks for excellence in global aviation.
