Etihad Airways carried a record number of passengers and cargo in 2014, marking its strongest operational performance to date, as almost 14.8 mln passengers flew with the Abu Dhabi-based carrier last year, a rise of 23% over 2013.
In total, Etihad carried more than 74% of the 19.9 mln passengers who travelled through Abu Dhabi International Airport last year. With the addition of the airline’s equity partners that operate flights into the UAE capital, the combined total rises to 82% of passenger traffic at Abu Dhabi International Airport.
“Our business model of organic network growth, codeshare partnerships and minority equity investments in other airlines, continued to yield positive results in 2014 and surpassed our double-digit targets for passenger and cargo growth,” said James Hogan, President and CEO of Etihad.
The airlines introduced ten new destinations to its global route network last year, with new services launched to Medina, Jaipur, Los Angeles and Zurich in the first half of the year, and Perth, Rome, Yerevan, Phuket, San Francisco and Dallas in the second half. In addition, frequencies were increased on 23 routes.
The airline’s codeshare and equity partnerships delivered over 3.5 mln passengers onto Etihad flights, up 40% over the 2.5 mln passengers in 2013.
New codeshare agreements were launched with Air Europa, jetBlue, Philippine Airlines, GOL, SAS, Hong Kong Airlines and Aerolineas Argentinas, while Etihad’s existing codeshares with South African Airways, Alitalia and Jet Airways were significantly expanded.
In August, the airline announced a €560 mln investment in New Alitalia to acquire a 49% shareholding in the carrier, a 75% interest in Alitalia Loyalty, which operates the MilleMiglia frequent flier programme, 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 and became effective on December 31, 2014.
Alitalia is the latest addition to Etihad Airways’ equity partners network which 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 with all partner airlines, as well as NIKI.
Etihad also reported strong cargo growth for 2014, with 568,648 tonnes 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 last year.
Etihad’s fleet consisted of 110 aircraft at the end of 2014 (+24% 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, as well as nine Airbus aircraft (A330-200s, A321s, A320s, A330-200F) and six Boeing aircraft (777-300ER, 777-200LRs) in 2014.
Etihad Airways operates a two-class Airbus A320 between Abu Dhabi and Cyprus five times a week. Configured to carry 136 passengers (16 in business class and 120 in economy), flight EY093 flies every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It departs from Abu Dhabi at 09:15 and arrives in Larnaca at 12:00. The return flight, EY094, departs from Larnaca at 13:50 and arrives in Abu Dhabi at 19:30 local time.
For information visit: www.etihad.com
