Etihad Airways is exploring the possibility of placing a new order with Airbus for A350 and A330neo aircraft at Dubai Airshow next week, according to Reuters.
News of the potential order comes as the airline has posted record nine-month profits of $463 million (after tax), up 26% from $368 million over the same period last year.
According to Reuters, information regarding a potential order arrived from industry sources, but neither Airbus nor Etihad would comment on the rumors.
Commenting on the airline’s latest financial figures on November 14, 2025, the CEO of Etihad, Antonoaldo Neves, said: “Etihad’s performance this year has set a new benchmark, outpacing the market and driving nearly half of the UAE’s total passenger growth. It’s a clear validation of our strategy, the strength of our team, and the appeal of Abu Dhabi as a world-class destination. We’re expanding, elevating the guest experience, and maintaining our focus on efficiency and performance.”
Etihad described the results as the “strongest nine-month results in history,” with revenues reaching $5.9 billion between January and September 2025, up 18% from $5 billion the previous year.
The airline claims that the record passenger revenue was driven by increased capacity, network enhancement and strong demand, while cargo rose due to increased capacity and volumes.
Etihad also saw its EBITDA increase 27% year-on-year to $1.2 billion, translating to an improved margin of 20%.
It carried 16.1 million passengers in the first nine months of 2025, the highest ever total in its history, and increased its fleet size to 115 aircraft by welcoming three A321LRs, three Boeing 787s, two A350s and a single A320.
In the first nine months of 2025, the airline also added more than 2,600 new employees, including over 200 pilots and 1,500 cabin crew.
