Abu Dhabi's Etihad on track for...

UAE airline sees 21% surge in passenger numbers in April

Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways welcomed 1.7 million guests in April 2025, up 21% on last year, putting the UAE national carrier on track to achieve record numbers in 2025.

So far this year, the airline has flown 6.7 million passengers, up by a million compared to the same period in 2024.

Etihad says passenger load increased from 84% to 89%, destinations flown rose from 68 to 72 and the fleet reached 99 aircraft, up from 89 this time last year.

"With almost 7 million guests flown in the first four months alone, we’re building strong momentum toward another record-breaking year," said Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways.

"We’re now on track to carry more than 21 million guests in 2025, more than ever before in our history”.

Increased passenger demand has seen the airline grow its global route network significantly in 2025, with 16 new destinations set to roll out this year, including to Warsaw and Prague in June 2025, as well as a significant increase in its footprint in Africa.

Tourism in Abu Dhabi, Etihad’s home hub, is flying high right now, with 1.4 million overnight guests in the first quarter of 2025, an increase of 4% on the same period last year, which was also a record.

Helping to boost the increase, Abu Dhabi's Stopover Programme saw visitors surge 76%, with 25,000 bookings in the first four months of 2025, up 47% on the same period in 2024, while visitors rose to 44,000 compared to 25,000.

This is further expected to rise, as more attractions open in the UAE capital, with interactive, multi-sensory experience teamLab Phenomena recently opening in the Saadiyat Cultural District and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and the National History Museum Abu Dhabi expected to open this year.

Yas Island will also welcome a Harry Potter attraction at Warner Brothers World as well as 18 new attractions at Yas Waterworld.

Earlier this month, The Walt Disney Company announced plans to open its first-ever theme park in the Middle East, choosing Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island for the landmark project.

For more information, visit www.etihad.com