Etihad Airways
United Arab EmiratesFull-service carrierSince 2003
Etihad Airways is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, a full-service carrier based at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi. In 2025 it carried a record 22.4 million passengers and ended the year with 127 aircraft and 110 network destinations. Etihad is not in a global alliance; its loyalty programme is Etihad Guest.
Direct connection available on ReservationHub- Founded
- 2003
- First flight
- 2003-11
- Headquarters
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Country
- United Arab Emirates
- Main hubs
- Zayed International Airport (AUH), Abu Dhabi
- Airline type
- Full-service carrier
- Alliance
- None
- Loyalty
- Etihad Guest
- Parent
- Etihad Aviation Group
- Ownership
- Etihad Aviation Group is wholly owned by ADQ, the Abu Dhabi state holding company, after a 2022 transfer from the Abu Dhabi government.
- Callsign
- ETIHAD
- Website
- etihad.com
How travel agents book Etihad Airways
GDS distribution
Etihad content is distributed through Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport. Travelport renewed and expanded its agreement with Etihad in January 2024, and Etihad uses Amadeus Altéa as its passenger service system under a multi-year deal signed in September 2021.
NDC
Etihad uses Amadeus Altéa NDC to make its full range of offers, including ancillaries, visible to travel agents through Amadeus (agreement of September 2021). Sabre began offering Etihad NDC content in June 2024, initially to agencies in Oman and Bahrain, and the January 2024 Travelport renewal added NDC content and servicing to Travelport+.
Notes for travel agents
NDC rollouts for Etihad have been phased by market (Sabre started with Oman and Bahrain), so agencies should confirm NDC availability for their point of sale and keep traditional GDS content as a fallback.
On ReservationHub
Etihad Airways is one of the direct airline connections listed on our integrations page, alongside GDS (Amadeus, Sabre, Travelport) and NDC content. Agencies get it in the SaaS platform; developers through the Travel API.
History of Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways was established in July 2003 under a royal decree issued by the late UAE President, Sheikh Khalifa. A ceremonial flight to Al Ain took place on 5 November 2003, and commercial services began about a week later with flights to Beirut.
In 2005 Abu Dhabi withdrew from Gulf Air to concentrate on its own airline. Etihad grew quickly over the following decade, recording its first full-year profit in 2011 and buying minority stakes in several airlines, including Jet Airways, Virgin Australia, Air Serbia and Air Berlin. By 2018 it flew to more than 100 destinations with a fleet of about 115 aircraft.
The pandemic brought a loss of US$1.7 billion in 2020 and deep job cuts, followed by a recovery led first by cargo. In 2022 the Abu Dhabi government transferred full ownership of Etihad Aviation Group to ADQ, its state holding company. Etihad's home airport was renamed Zayed International Airport on 9 February 2024.
In 2025 the airline reported record passenger numbers of 22.4 million, up 21% on the previous year, and added 29 aircraft to its operating fleet.
Milestones
- 2003Established by royal decree in July; commercial flights begin in November with Beirut.
- 2005Abu Dhabi withdraws from Gulf Air to focus on Etihad.
- 2011First full-year profit; begins investing in other airlines.
- 2021Signs multi-year Amadeus deal for the Altéa PSS and Altéa NDC.
- 2022Ownership of Etihad Aviation Group transferred to ADQ.
- 2024Abu Dhabi International renamed Zayed International Airport; Travelport and Sabre NDC agreements announced.
- 2025Record 22.4 million passengers carried; fleet reaches 127 aircraft.
Fleet
Aircraft types in service as of 2026
Etihad's operating fleet stood at 127 aircraft at the end of 2025, including freighters and short-term ACMI leases, after 29 aircraft joined during the year. The airline's fleet page lists Airbus A320, A321, A321LR, A350 and A380 aircraft and Boeing 777, 787 and 777 Freighter types. The A321LR is being used to bring a premium cabin to more short and medium-haul routes.
Network and hubs
Etihad operates a hub network from Zayed International Airport (AUH) in Abu Dhabi, linking the Gulf with Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and North America. At the end of 2025 its network counted 110 destinations, including seasonal and cargo points and routes due to start within 12 months, with 91 operated in December 2025.
Etihad is not in a global alliance and relies on codeshare and interline partners for onward connections. Its 2025 traffic of 22.4 million passengers was the highest in its history.
Etihad Airways: frequently asked questions
What are Etihad Airways' IATA and ICAO codes?
Etihad Airways uses the IATA airline code EY on tickets and in reservations systems. Its ICAO designator is ETD and its radio callsign is ETIHAD. The IATA code directory lists the operating company as Etihad Airways PJSC, trading as Etihad Airways, registered in the United Arab Emirates.
Which airport is Etihad's hub?
Etihad is based at Zayed International Airport (AUH) in Abu Dhabi. The airport was known as Abu Dhabi International until 9 February 2024, when it was renamed after Sheikh Zayed. The airport code AUH did not change, so existing bookings, fare filings and timetables continue to use it.
Is Etihad in an airline alliance?
No. Etihad Airways is not a member of Star Alliance, oneworld or SkyTeam. It connects passengers beyond its own network through bilateral codeshare and interline agreements, and runs its own loyalty programme, Etihad Guest, which has separate earning and redemption partners.
Does Etihad Airways use NDC?
Yes. Etihad distributes NDC offers through Amadeus using Altéa NDC under a 2021 agreement. Sabre began offering Etihad NDC content in June 2024, starting with agencies in Oman and Bahrain, and Travelport's January 2024 renewal added Etihad NDC content and servicing to Travelport+ for connected agencies.
Who owns Etihad Airways?
Etihad Airways is part of Etihad Aviation Group, which is wholly owned by ADQ, an Abu Dhabi state-owned investment and holding company. Abu Dhabi's Supreme Council for Financial and Economic Affairs transferred full ownership of the group to ADQ in 2022, after its ancillary businesses had moved to ADQ earlier that year.
Sell Etihad Airways alongside 700+ airlines
ReservationHub combines GDS, NDC and low-cost carrier content with hotels, B2B sub-agent sales and back office in one travel booking platform.
Book a meetingSources
- Etihad Airways — Record passenger numbers and growth in 2025 (January 2026)
- Etihad Airways — Landmark deal with Amadeus (September 2021)
- Etihad Airways — Our fleet
- Etihad Airways — About us
- Etihad Airways — Etihad celebrates Zayed International Airport (February 2024)
- FlightGlobal — Abu Dhabi government hands ownership of Etihad to state investment company (October 2022)
- Travelport — Travelport and Etihad renew content distribution agreement with NDC offers (January 2024)
- TTG Asia — Sabre, Etihad Airways partner on NDC content (June 2024)
- The National — Twenty years of Etihad (July 2023)
- IATA — Airline and location code search
- FAA — JO 7340.2N Contractions (ICAO three-letter designators and telephony)