Abu Dhabi’s Etihad recorded 35 % passenger growth in 2008

Abu Dhabi’s state-owned Etihad Airways said on Monday it recorded 33 percent passenger growth in the first nine months of 2008, during which it added four destinations.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline carried 4.4 million passengers across its network of current 48 destinations, compared to 3.3 million for the same period in 2007 between 1 January and 30 September. Seat factors in the same period averaged of 75 per cent, representing a year-on-year increase of seven percentage points.

Boosted by its busiest ever summer, Etihad Airways is set to exceed its target of six million passengers by the end of an impressive year, which will also see its global network grow to a half century of destinations and its aircraft fleet grow from 38 to 42 aircraft.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said: "Despite current market conditions and against an industry backdrop that remains extremely challenging, the performance of our airline during the first nine months of this year was impressive.

"The significant investment we have put into our product and service this year is paying rich dividends and we remain well on track to achieve our target of flying six million passengers by the end of the year."

All Etihad Airways’s cabins experienced increased seat factors compared to the same period in 2007 during the first nine months of 2008.

Etihad Airways’s services to Asia and Australia turned in a particularly strong performance with overall seat factors averaging 82 per cent across the region. Passenger loads in the economy cabin averaged 84 per cent, led by Manila (94 per cent), Jakarta (90 per cent), Sydney (87 per cent) and Bangkok (83 per cent).

Within Europe, flights to Dublin, Brussels, Manchester and Paris all achieved average seat factors of more than 80 per cent in economy.

Middle East routes which performed well during the first nine months of the year included Amman and Damascus and both achieved overall average seat factors of 78 per cent. The Egyptian capital of Cairo remains the airline’s most popular African route, which achieved an overall seat factor of 80 per cent.

Etihad Airways will also boost its flying programme to Australia in October, with an increase to its existing daily service to Sydney to 11 flights per week and add a third daily flight to London Heathrow, the world’s busiest international airport.

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