en.Wedoany.com Reported - Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, said in an interview with Aviation Week at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro that the airline is ordering additional widebody aircraft to cope with recovery during the current period of conflict and to maintain confidence in future growth. Neves stated that several widebody aircraft models are available on the market, and the company's decision-making process has been swift, with preparations underway to finalize incremental widebody aircraft deals for the next five years.
Neves revealed that a "double-digit" number of additional aircraft will join the Etihad Airways fleet between now and 2031. Although flight volumes were minimal in March and April due to airspace closures, passenger traffic is recovering, with a load factor of 84% across the route network. In terms of capacity, flight schedules have actually exceeded last year's levels since June 15, thanks to the fleet's focus on widebody rather than narrowbody aircraft. The company's Available Seat Kilometers (ASK) growth rate has reached 20% this year, making it the fastest-growing airline globally.
On the financial front, Neves indicated that the company will generate cash flow to support growth by 2026, but profitability remains unclear at present. Etihad Airways holds a relatively favorable fuel hedging position. Currently, the airline sells between 110,000 and 120,000 flight segments daily, consistent with pre-conflict levels. Average ticket prices have returned to pre-crisis levels, and yields have also recovered. Neves noted that the company operates a diverse fleet, which allows for flexible deployment across different markets during economic downturns. For example, strong demand in Paris has led to the deployment of two daily Airbus A380 flights on that route; the booming India-to-US market has seen the Airbus A350 replace the Boeing 787-9; and for underperforming markets affected by the conflict, the lower-range-cost Airbus A321LR is used.
Neves emphasized that the company's ability to adjust its route network and deploy different aircraft types is a competitive advantage. He told employees that Etihad Airways needs a business model that is resilient enough to weather difficult times, whether due to economic crises, airspace closures, or conflicts, which is why the company is confident in its recovery.
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