Etihad Airways carried a record number of passengers and cargo in 2014.
Almost 14.8 million passengers flew with Etihad Airways in 2014, an increase of 23% over 2013 levels.
In total, Etihad Airways carried more than 74% of the 19.9 million passengers who travelled through Abu Dhabi International Airport in 2014. With the addition of the airline’s equity partners that operate flights into the UAE capital, the combined total rises to a significant 82% of passenger traffic at Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Etihad Airways introduced 10 additional destinations to its global route network in 2014. In addition, frequencies were increased on 23 existing routes across the world in 2014.
The airline also expanded its codeshare and equity partnerships in 2014. These partnerships delivered over 3.5 million passengers onto Etihad Airways flights, an increase of 40% over the 2.5 million passengers in 2013.
New codeshare agreements were launched with Air Europa, jetBlue, Philippine Airlines, GOL, SAS, Hong Kong Airlines and Aerolineas Argentinas, while Etihad Airways’ existing codeshares with South African Airways, Alitalia and Jet Airways were significantly expanded.
In August 2014, the airline announced a €560 million investment in New Alitalia to acquire a 49 per cent shareholding in the carrier, a 75 per cent interest in Alitalia Loyalty, which operates the MilleMiglia frequent flier program, and five pairs of slots at London’s Heathrow Airport, which will be leased back to Alitalia. The transaction received European Commission merger clearance in November 2014 and became effective on 31 December 2014.
Alitalia is the latest addition to Etihad Airways’ equity partners network, which also includes airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Aer Lingus, Jet Airways and Virgin Australia. An investment is being formalised in Swiss-based Etihad Regional, operated by Darwin Airline.
In addition, Etihad Airways Partners was unveiled last year to offer passengers more choice through improved networks and schedules, plus enhanced frequent flyer benefits. The partnership also builds greater synergies for participating airlines, which currently include airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Etihad Airways, Etihad Regional, Jet Airways and NIKI.
Etihad Airways also reported strong cargo growth for 2014, with 568,648 tons of freight and mail flown in total, a 17% increase year-on-year. The airline accounted for 89.6% of cargo imports, exports and transfers at Abu Dhabi airport in 2014.
Over the course of 2014, Etihad Cargo enhanced its global reach by offering bellyhold capacity on Etihad Airways’ 10 new passenger destinations and expanding its freighter services to new markets such as Dar es Salaam, Entebbe, Hanoi and Moscow. A freighter service was also launched from Milan to Bogotá and from Bogotá to Amsterdam, following an agreement with Avianca Cargo, the cargo division of Latin American carrier Avianca.
Etihad Airways’ fleet consisted of 110 aircraft at the end of 2014 (+24 per cent year-on-year), with an average age of 5.5 years. The airline took delivery of its first Airbus A380 and Boeing 787-9 in December, with both aircraft offering new standards in cabin interiors, together with considerable fuel efficiency and environmental improvements.
An additional nine Airbus aircraft (two A330-200s, three A321s, three A320s and one A330-200F) and six Boeing aircraft (one 777-300ER, five 777-200LRs) were received in 2014, while further leased capacity was also added.
Source: Etihad Airways