Etihad Airways posted strong growth in 2015 with a “significant” increase in passenger numbers on the previous year.
The Gulf airline carried 17.4 million passengers last year, a rise of 17 per cent on 2014. It operated 97,400 flights which covered 467 million kilometres.
According to its annual passenger number outlook, the Etihad carried more than 75 per cent of the total passengers who travelled to and from Abu Dhabi airport in 2015.
Etihad CEO and president James Hogan, said: “In 2015, we were able to bring new competitive choice to millions of travellers, through our award-winning services and through the growing networks of our equity partners.
“No airline group is doing more to stimulate new competition in the aviation industry.”
Etihad Airways introduced six additional destinations to its global route network in 2015, with new flights to Kolkata, Madrid, Edinburgh, Entebbe, Hong Kong, and Dar es Salaam, and a new direct service to Brisbane.
The airline said to support the next phase of its global network expansion, it will receive 10 aircraft deliveries this year, including five Boeing 787-9s, three A380s and two Boeing 777-200 Freighters.
Hogan added: “We enter 2016 with confidence as a stronger, more dynamic airline that will continue to support the evolution of Abu Dhabi as a global aviation hub.”