Etihad Airways' IPO Is Shareholder's Decision, Says CEO

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

Abu Dhabi-based airline hired more than 3,200 new employees and promoted around 2,200 last year

** PUBLISHED:** Tue 24 Feb 2026, 1:18 PM ** UPDATED:** Tue 24 Feb 2026, 4:13 PM

By:

Waheed Abbas

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Etihad Airways plans to hire up to 3,000 staff yearly over the next five years as it invests Dh80 billion ($21.8 billion) in aircraft and product development over the next 10 years, its chief executive said on Tuesday. The airline hired more than 3,200 new employees and promoted around 2,200 last year.

Frontline hiring remained a priority, with around 1,600 cabin crew and almost 400 pilots joining the airline in 2025, supporting capacity growth while maintaining service quality and operational resilience. At the same time, Etihad continued to recognise and develop talent internally, delivering around 1,500 cabin crew promotions and nearly 150 pilot promotions during the year.

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“We’re going to keep that range from 2,500 to 3,000 people hired per year, and add about 20 aircraft per year. That’s more or less the ratio that we’re going to be doing for the next five years,” Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, said during a virtual media conference on Tuesday to announce the airline’s results.

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Last year, Dr Nadia Bastaki, chief people and corporate affairs officer of Etihad Airways, said in an interview that the airline would double its manpower to 12,000 by 2030.

Etihad’s workforce in 2025 represented 152 nationalities, reflecting the airline’s diverse, global operating footprint. Alongside this, the airline maintained a strong focus on UAE National talent development, including cadet pilot intakes and future leadership programmes, ensuring Emirati talent continues to play a growing role in Etihad’s long-term success.

Etihad IPO is shareholder’s decision

Replying to a question about the airline’s plan to go public, Antonoaldo Neves reiterated that the decision to launch Etihad Airways IPO rests with the shareholder.

"IPO is a shareholder decision; it is not for management to comment.”
In October 2022, the Supreme Council for Financial and Economic Affairs in Abu Dhabi transferred ownership of Etihad Aviation Group to sovereign wealth fund ADQ.

Etihad Airways on Tuesday announced a record profit of Dh2.6 billion for 2025, an increase of 47 per cent year-on-year, driven by both passenger and cargo businesses.

In an interview with Khaleej Times last year, Neves said that the airline was“ready to IPO anytime”, but this was a decision that would be taken by the shareholders.

In 2025, companies across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region raised $6.6 billion (Dh24 billion), the lowest level since the pandemic, according to a new Viewpoint by Arthur D. Little. Saudi Arabia accounted for 63.5 per cent of the total value of share sales, while the UAE accounted for 28.7 per cent.

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