Etihad

Etihad Airways is the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates and the principal airline of Abu Dhabi. It is owned by the government of Abu Dhabi through the state-owned Etihad Aviation Group and is headquartered near Abu Dhabi. The airline operates a global network of scheduled international passenger and cargo services from its hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport, connecting the emirate with Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas.

History and development: Etihad was established by royal decree and began operations in 2003 with the aim of establishing Abu Dhabi as a major international aviation hub. The airline pursued rapid growth in its early years, including equity investments in partner carriers and the expansion of its route network. In the late 2010s, the group implemented structural changes to align capacity with demand and improve financial performance.

Operations and network: Etihad emphasizes long-haul travel and premium service, operating a wide international network from its Abu Dhabi hub. The airline is not part of any traditional global airline alliance, but maintains codeshare and commercial agreements with various carriers to extend its reach.

Fleet and services: Etihad operates a mixed fleet of wide-body and narrow-body aircraft sourced from Airbus and Boeing. The fleet includes modern wide-bodies designed for efficiency and comfort on long-distance routes. The airline offers multiple cabin classes and operates a loyalty program, Etihad Guest, which provides mileage accrual and redemption options with partner programs.

Corporate structure and sustainability: The Etihad Aviation Group oversees Etihad Airways along with related aviation businesses such as maintenance and ground services. The group pursues fleet modernization and sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing environmental impact and improving operational efficiency.