Etihad Airways plans to triple its investment by 2030. The Middle East’s third-largest carrier published a five-year, $7 billion investment plan late Thursday as part of aggressive efforts to challenge Gulf rival Emirates and European players like Lufthansa. In an interview with CNBC’s Dan Murphy, Etihad Group Chief Executive Officer Antonoaldo Neves said that passengers should expect a totally different airline within two or three years.
Most of the investments would be on retrofitting the existing fleet, mainly in terms of the older Boeing 777s, while new additions would take place in the future. Currently, Etihad has a fleet of 92 aircraft and plans to add up to about 170 by the end of the decade. The airline would then be capable of offering more convenient flight schedules, especially to those who travel to Europe or Southeast Asia.
Beginning with 2026 Neves underlined the need to retrofit the Boeing 777s because of constraints in the global aviation market, which include the lack of availability of aircraft. The company will enhance its product offerings to include business-class seats and up-grade its in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity.
“The product and the customer service are highly important, Neves commented. He cited the example of the new terminal in Abu Dhabi, which has boosted daily flights by more than 100, thus once again improving the competitive position of Etihad”.
Since the start of the year, Etihad has received 18 million passengers-in contrast with 10 million two years ago. With this thrust towards higher profit, speculation continues to swirl regarding a possible IPO in 2025. Neves clarified that even though there has been no decision related to the timing of the IPO, being listed might be the good means to provide this airline with capital it needs for growth.
Etihad is said to be nearing an IPO that would probably be led by ADQ, the Abu Dhabi government sovereign wealth fund that is rapidly expanding its direct investment in its portfolio companies. Reports are stating that the geopolitical instability in the region, such as the Gaza conflict and the escalating tensions between Israel and Lebanon, might affect the date when that announcement would happen.
Read More: Click Here
