Etihad loss narrows as revenues increase

The strong revenue recovery reflects quick return of passenger demand wherever flight and travel restrictions were eased.
Etihad Airways said passenger numbers could hit pre-pandemic levels by 2023, after the reopening of global borders helped the Gulf carrier post a fourth-quarter profit.  

The Abu Dhabi-based airline has cause for optimism after a recent paring back of domestic coronavirus restrictions. The city relaxed mandatory quarantine periods and travellers to the emirate no longer need to get tested before flying in if they are fully vaccinated.

Etihad's passenger load factor - or percentage of occupied seats - doubled in the second half of the year and reached 70 per cent in December.
That was the highest monthly figure since the pandemic began, as travel demand peaked during the winter holiday period.

"February's been better than we anticipated as well, and that's before the relaxation in travel restrictions", chief financial officer Adam Boukadida said in an interview. "We're expecting 2022 to be better than last year", he said.

The comments echo those of Dubai Airports chief executive officer Paul Griffiths, who has predicted an imminent surge in passengers.
-B