Abu Dhabi’s flag-carrier unveiled blockbuster 2025 results on 24 February, posting a record AED 2.6 billion (US $698 million) profit after tax—up 47 per cent year-on-year—and transporting 22.4 million passengers. CEO Antonoaldo Neves told reporters the airline will channel the windfall into an ambitious mobility drive: adding about 20 aircraft annually for the next five years and recruiting up to 3,000 employees each year across flight operations, engineering, customer experience and corporate roles.
The recruitment surge matters for global-mobility managers in two ways. First, Etihad’s aggressive fleet growth will open new non-stop and one-stop links via Abu Dhabi, giving corporates additional routings and price points when moving staff through the Gulf hub. Second, the airline itself will become a major destination employer for aviation talent, creating demand for relocation support, housing, schooling and fast-track visas under Abu Dhabi’s talent-attraction schemes.
Neves emphasised that 60 per cent of tickets are sold overseas, underlining Etihad’s role as a service-export champion in the emirate’s diversification agenda. Point-to-point traffic to Abu Dhabi rose to 5.5 million, while the stop-over programme—offering free hotel nights—doubled to 170,000 visitors, a tactic designed to convert transit passengers into tourists and potential future residents.
![Etihad Airways’ record profit sparks plan to hire 3,000 staff a year and expand fleet]()
Whether you’re relocating flight crews or orchestrating an entire workforce move, VisaHQ can simplify the U.A.E. visa process. Its online portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) lets applicants compare permit options, upload documents securely and track approvals in real time—helpful tools as Etihad’s hiring spree fuels demand for swift, compliant entry clearance.
For business-travel buyers, more capacity should translate into additional premium-cabin inventory and, potentially, softer fares on key routes as Etihad competes with Emirates, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines for connecting traffic. Mobility teams should also note that Etihad’s planned Dh80 billion (US $21.8 billion) capital outlay over the next decade includes product upgrades such as new-generation narrow-bodies fitted with lie-flat seats—a boon for regional shuttle trips within five hours of the UAE.
With headcount set to climb sharply, Etihad has signalled a preference for candidates already holding U.A.E. residency, but will sponsor work visas for critical skills. HR partners should plan early for medicals, Emirates ID enrolment and family-dependant processing during the summer intake peak.
The recruitment surge matters for global-mobility managers in two ways. First, Etihad’s aggressive fleet growth will open new non-stop and one-stop links via Abu Dhabi, giving corporates additional routings and price points when moving staff through the Gulf hub. Second, the airline itself will become a major destination employer for aviation talent, creating demand for relocation support, housing, schooling and fast-track visas under Abu Dhabi’s talent-attraction schemes.
Neves emphasised that 60 per cent of tickets are sold overseas, underlining Etihad’s role as a service-export champion in the emirate’s diversification agenda. Point-to-point traffic to Abu Dhabi rose to 5.5 million, while the stop-over programme—offering free hotel nights—doubled to 170,000 visitors, a tactic designed to convert transit passengers into tourists and potential future residents.
Whether you’re relocating flight crews or orchestrating an entire workforce move, VisaHQ can simplify the U.A.E. visa process. Its online portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) lets applicants compare permit options, upload documents securely and track approvals in real time—helpful tools as Etihad’s hiring spree fuels demand for swift, compliant entry clearance.
For business-travel buyers, more capacity should translate into additional premium-cabin inventory and, potentially, softer fares on key routes as Etihad competes with Emirates, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines for connecting traffic. Mobility teams should also note that Etihad’s planned Dh80 billion (US $21.8 billion) capital outlay over the next decade includes product upgrades such as new-generation narrow-bodies fitted with lie-flat seats—a boon for regional shuttle trips within five hours of the UAE.
With headcount set to climb sharply, Etihad has signalled a preference for candidates already holding U.A.E. residency, but will sponsor work visas for critical skills. HR partners should plan early for medicals, Emirates ID enrolment and family-dependant processing during the summer intake peak.
