Etihad targets 25m annual passengers by 2020

Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, has announced its intention to carry 25 million passengers a year by 2020.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline also revealed that it hopes to boost its international network to more than 100 destinations and has placed orders for 152 aircraft to be delivered over the next 11 years.

Etihad chief executive James Hogan announced the targets at the Middle East Aviation Outlook Summit, also confirming that at least six new routes will be launched this year alone to increase passenger traffic and boost revenue.

The airline achieved a record year in 2008 when it carried more than six million passengers and took delivery of nine new planes, expanding its fleet to a total of 42 aircraft.

Its operations were boosted by the launch of new flights to destinations including Beijing, Minsk, Chennai and Moscow.

Etihad has already confirmed that it will develop its network this year with the launch of new flights to Athens, Chicago, Istanbul, Melbourne and Larnaca.

Posted by Penny, 05 March 2009 13:26

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