Etihad 9-month profit soars to record $463mln

Etihad 9-month profit soars to record $463mln

Etihad Airways has continued its record-setting performance, achieving its strongest nine-month results in history and sustaining growth across all core business areas.

The performance highlights the airline’s growth, rising customer satisfaction, and continued efficiency improvements, it said.

Profit after tax reached AED1.7 billion ($463 million) for the first nine months of 2025, up 26 per cent compared to the same period last year, lifting the airline’s profit margin to 8 per cent, compared to 7 per cent for the same period last year.

Total revenue rose 18 per cent year-on-year to AED21.7 billion ($5.9 billion), supported by strong performance across both passenger and cargo segments. Passenger revenue increased 20 per cent year-on-year to AED18.2 billion ($4.9 billion), reflecting the airline’s increased capacity and enhanced network. Cargo revenue grew 8 per cent to AED3.2 billion ($875 million), driven by improved capacity and higher volumes (+6 per cent year-on-year).

Operating performance remained robust, with EBITDA increasing 27 per cent year-on-year to AED4.3 billion ($1.2 billion), translating to an improved EBITDA margin of 20 per cent, +1pp compared to the same period last year. Strong cash generation continued, with operating cash flow reaching nearly AED6 billion (more than $1.5 billion), an increase of more than 40 per cent compared to last year.

Etihad carried 16.1 million passengers in the first nine months of 2025 – the highest ever in its history – an 18 per cent increase year-on-year, supported by a 17 per cent rise in capacity and a higher load factor of 88 per cent (+1pp year-on-year).

Customer satisfaction continued to rise throughout 2025, with Net Promoter Scores (NPS) improving across all cabins and reaching record levels in premium. The new A321LR fleet has been particularly well received by guests, setting a new benchmark for comfort and service on narrow-body aircraft.

“Etihad’s performance this year has set a new benchmark, outpacing the market and driving nearly half of the UAE’s total passenger growth,” said Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways. “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.

“I want to thank every member of our team for their contribution to these results, and our guests for their continued support. Their trust and enthusiasm inspire us to deliver extraordinary experiences every day.”

Etihad’s operating fleet reached 115 aircraft at the end of September 2025, an increase of 19 year-on-year, marking one of the busiest delivery periods in the airline’s history. During the third quarter, Etihad added nine aircraft – its first Airbus A321LR in July, followed by two more A321LRs, three Boeing 787s, two Airbus A350s and one A320 – driving a more than 20 per cent increase year-on-year in Available Seat Kilometres (ASK) for the quarter. At the start of July, the airline also reached a major milestone, carrying 20 million passengers on a rolling 12-month basis for the first time in its history.

The new A321LR fleet entered service on 1 August 2025 with its inaugural flight to Phuket, bringing wide-body luxury to narrow-body operations for the first time in the region. The aircraft features private First suites, fully lie-flat Business in a 1-1 configuration, and enhanced design across all cabins, setting a new standard for comfort and service on single-aisle routes.

Oil settles up more than 2% as Russian port suspends oil exports after Ukrainian attack | Reuters

Oil settles up more than 2% as Russian port suspends oil exports after Ukrainian attack | Reuters

Oil prices settled more than 2% higher on Friday as Russia's port of Novorossiisk halted oil exports following a Ukrainian drone attack that hit an oil depot in the Russian energy hub, stoking supply concerns.

Brent crude futures settled up $1.38, or 2.19%, at $64.39 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude settled up $1.40, or 2.39%, at $60.09 a barrel.

Brent rose 1.2% on the week, and WTI posted a weekly gain of around 0.6%.

Mideast Stocks: #UAE shares drop on hawkish Fed signal

Mideast Stocks: UAE shares drop on hawkish Fed signal

Stock markets in the United Arab Emirates fell on Friday, tracking weakness in global equities, as hawkish signals from U.S. Federal Reserve policymakers dampened expectations of an imminent interest rate cut. 

An increasing number of Fed officials have adopted a more cautious stance on further easing, citing stubborn inflation and a resilient labor market despite two rate cuts this year.

Markets now price a 49% chance of a quarter-point December Fed cut, compared with just over 60% earlier this week. Monetary policy shifts in the U.S. have a significant impact on Gulf markets, where most currencies are pegged to the dollar.

Dubai's benchmark index fell 0.7%, its third straight daily decline, with almost all sectors in negative territory.

Emirates NBD, the emirate's largest lender, slipped 2.3%, while Salik dropped 2.1%. The toll operator reported a year-over-year increase in third-quarter net profit, but experienced a sequential decline from the previous quarter.

In Abu Dhabi, the index was down 0.4%, extending its losing streak to a third session, with most constituents lower. 

Blue-chip developer Aldar Properties fell 1.6% and Presight AI Holding dropped 6.6%.

Among other decliners, International Holding Co edged lower, while its units Multiply Group and Ghitha Holding dropped 0.4% and 4.7%, respectively.

Conglomerate IHC has named the leadership team for its newly formed investment platform 2PointZero Group, created through the merger of 2PointZero, Multiply Group and Ghitha Holding, it said late on Wednesday.

Both UAE benchmarks ended the week lower, their third consecutive weekly loss.