Top 3 Headlines
Etihad’s record profit and passenger growth
Etihad Airways has reported its strongest-ever half-year performance, with a record profit after tax of AED 1.1 billion (U.S.$ 306 million) and highest-ever passenger numbers. The airline’s EBITDA margin reached 20% on the back of strong operating performance and efficiency gains. Total revenue rose by 16% year-on-year, driven by both passenger and cargo revenue growth.
The airline carried 10.2 million passengers in H1 2025, a 17% year-on-year increase, supported by a 14% rise in Available Seat Kilometres (ASK) and an improved passenger load factor of 87%. Etihad’s operating fleet exceeded 100 aircraft, with over 20 additional aircraft delivered in the last 18 months. The airline has launched or announced 27 new destinations in 2025 alone, reinforcing its position as the fastest-growing carrier in the region. Customer satisfaction continued to improve, with gains recorded across airport services, customer experience, and digital platforms.
Qatar Airway’s African and AI ambitions
Qatar Airways is bolstering its East African presence with an extended Doha-Nairobi flight schedule into 2026. Starting September 15, 2025, the airline will operate a third daily flight, further solidifying Nairobi’s importance as a strategic hub in its African network. This expansion aims to enhance connectivity for both business and leisure travelers. The airline plans to upgrade flights QR1341/1342 to potentially larger aircraft in Summer 2026, boosting capacity on the route.
In a separate venture, Qatar Airways has partnered with Ooredoo to enhance AI, cloud, and cybersecurity capabilities in Qatar. This strategic collaboration aims to drive innovation, accelerate digital transformation, and position Qatar as a global leader in AI advancement. Key initiatives include creating a national AI hub and investing in local talent, fostering a culture of innovation and technological growth in the region.
Royal Jordanian aims for 7 Million Passengers by 2028
Royal Jordanian is expecting to carry over 4 million passengers this year and aims to grow that number to 7 million over the next three years. The airline’s CEO, Samer Majali, announced plans to launch new routes, including potential flights to China, and is set to begin services to Morocco soon. The airline also hopes to resume flights to Sudan and Yemen if conditions allow.
The carrier is also modernizing its fleet, with 70% of its aircraft expected to be new by year-end, and plans to expand its fleet to 41 aircraft over the next two years. Royal Jordanina has been self-financing its fleet upgrades and is increasing its presence in Syria and Iraq, with 40 weekly flights to five destinations in Iraq. Washington D.C. was recently added to its routes as well.
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Noteworthy:
- Emirates has announced new appointments to its commercial leadership team to support its growth strategy and market expansion:
- Matthew Scott will lead Emirates’ Network Passenger Sales Development (NPSD) team as Senior Vice President.
- Abdulla Al Olama has been promoted to VP Regional Clusters for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
- Rashid Alardha has been promoted to VP Regional Clusters Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Flavio Ghiringhelli has been promoted to VP Regional Clusters for South and Central Europe.
- Pierfrancesco Carino will join Emirates as VP Regional for West and North Europe Clusters later this month.
- Riyadh Air and Red Sea Global have signed a partnership to collaborate on marketing efforts, offering exclusive packages and promotions to premium travellers visiting Saudi Arabia’s luxury resorts, including those developed by Red Sea Global.
- Turkish Airlines is launching new Istanbul-Dublin flights as part of its Winter 2025 schedule, enhancing connections between Ireland and Europe, as well as to Australia, the Far East, and South East Asia.
- China’s EHang Holdings has secured regulatory approval to launch passenger drone services in Qatar, marking a significant step forward in urban air mobility with its pilotless electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle, the EH216-S.
- flynas has secured a SR504 million ($134.4 million) Murabaha facility with Saudi Awwal Bank to finance new Airbus A320neo aircraft deliveries, supporting its fleet expansion plans and growth ambitions under the Saudi Vision 2030 program.
- Kuwait Airways will resume its operations to Madrid on 26 October with flights likely to operate weekly or bi-weekly depending on demand, as part of its effort to boost tourism and business travel between Kuwait City and the Spanish capital.
- flyadeal is launching daily flights from Saudi Arabia to Damascus, Syria, with services starting 1 October from Jeddah, and 2 October from Riyadh.
- Salalah received its first Iraqi Airways flight on 29 August, marking a new development in transportation links between Oman and Iraq.
- Wizz Air is expanding its winter flight schedule to Amman, Jordan, with multiple weekly flights from Budapest, London, Vienna, and Milan from 1 November to 31 March 2026.
- Air Arabia is offering a limited-time sale with discounted one-way fares starting from Dh149 (USD 41) to select destinations in the GCC and Asia, including India and Oman Bookings must be made by 5 September.
