Etihad Airways has released its traffic statistics for January 2026, reporting significant year-on-year growth across all key operational metrics. The airline carried 2.2m passengers during the month, a 29pc increase compared to January 2025.
Operational Highlights
- Load Factor: Seat occupancy reached 89.9%, reflecting high demand even as the airline rapidly expanded its capacity.
- Network Expansion: Etihad grew its global network to 110 destinations, with 93 actively served during January.
- New Routes: In January, the airline announced new direct services from Abu Dhabi to Luxembourg and Calgary.
- Fleet Growth: The operating fleet stood at 127 aircraft at the start of the year, including freighters and aircraft under short-term ACMI leases.
CEO Antonoaldo Neves shared the performance builds on a record-breaking 2025, which saw the airline carry a total of 22.4m passengers. The continued high load factors and network growth reinforce Abu Dhabi’s role as a primary global transit hub. Additionally, Etihad was ranked as the world’s safest full-service airline for 2026.
