Etihad Airways Reveals Top 30 Busiest Routes
Etihad Airways Achieves Remarkable Growth in Passenger Volume
ABU DHABI – Etihad Airways, the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has reported an impressive increase in passenger volume, surging by over 30% in the past year. This growth highlights the airline’s strong operational performance, particularly within its widebody fleet, which has been recognized as the most profitable among major Middle Eastern carriers according to recent Q3 2024 data from AvBench.
Etihad Airways’ Short-Haul Routes Performance
Etihad’s short-haul network, comprising routes under 1,500 nautical miles, currently serves over 6 million passengers annually, marking a significant 32% increase compared to the previous year. Despite constituting only 12% of Etihad’s total Available Seat Kilometers (ASK), these routes generate approximately $500 million in annual ticket revenue.
- Key Markets:
- India-UAE Corridor: 53% of short-haul ASK
- UAE-Saudi Arabia: 13%
- UAE-Pakistan: 11%
- UAE-Egypt: 9%
- UAE-Jordan: 3%
Top Short-Haul Routes
Analysis of Etihad’s short-haul performance highlights the Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Delhi (DEL) route as its strongest performer, boasting a Market Outlook & eXpansion Index (MOXI) score of 7.9. This route has seen a remarkable increase of 194,000 passengers, maintaining an 85% market share.
Busiest Short-Haul Routes:
- Abu Dhabi – Delhi: MOXI 7.9, 637,000 passengers (up 194,000)
- Abu Dhabi – Mumbai: MOXI 7.4, 562,000 passengers (up 171,000)
- Abu Dhabi – Cairo: MOXI 6.8, 372,000 passengers (up 139,000)
Conversely, routes such as Abu Dhabi to Beirut have shown underperformance, with a low MOXI score of 2.9.
Fleet Composition and Opportunities
Etihad’s short-haul routes are served by three aircraft types: the A320, A321, and A321neo. The A321neo fleet shows significant potential, with a COFI score of 9.9, which is crucial for maintaining market share on short-haul routes.
Medium and Long-Haul Network Performance
In addition to its short-haul success, Etihad’s medium and long-haul network serves over 11.5 million passengers annually, reflecting a robust 35% growth. These routes generate around $3 billion in ticket revenue and account for 88% of total ASK deployment.
- Key Markets:
- Middle East-Europe: 37% of ASK
- Middle East-Asia: 34%
- Middle East-North America: 19%
Busiest Long-Haul Routes
The Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Phuket (HKT) route has emerged as Etihad’s strongest long-haul performer, with a MOXI score of 7.2, gaining 214,000 segment passengers. The airline maintains 100% market share on most long-haul routes.
Top Long-Haul Routes:
- Abu Dhabi – Phuket: MOXI 7.2
- Abu Dhabi – Bangkok: MOXI 7.1
- Abu Dhabi – Jakarta: MOXI 6.9
Methodology & Data Sources
The analysis is based on two primary frameworks: the Market Outlook & eXpansion Index (MOXI) and the Commercial & Operational Fit Index (COFI). Data is sourced from Milanamos and ch-aviation, incorporating extensive traffic, revenue, and schedule data.
In conclusion, Etihad Airways is experiencing significant growth and success across its short-haul and long-haul networks. For more insights into Etihad Airways’ performance or to share your thoughts, feel free to comment below or explore our related articles.
