Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national carrier, plans to go public no earlier than 2025, according to sources speaking to Reuters. If successful, it would be the first major Gulf airline to do so, aligning with Abu Dhabi’s ambitions to enhance its status as a global travel hub.
Owned by Abu Dhabi’s wealth fund ADQ, Etihad had initially considered listing in 2023. However, the airline now prefers to wait until its 2024 financial results are available, which are expected to reflect strong performance. Geopolitical concerns in the region have also contributed to the delay.
ADQ did not comment on the matter, while Etihad told Gulf News it does not respond to speculation.
Etihad recently reported a 48% rise in half-year after-tax profits, with passenger numbers increasing by 38% to 8.7 million. This follows strong annual profits for 2022 and 2023.
CEO Antonoaldo Neves has consistently avoided confirming any IPO plans but acknowledged that airlines, being capital-intensive, could benefit from going public. He noted that the management’s priority is to maximise shareholder returns, adding that any decision regarding an IPO would ultimately lie with the shareholders, not the management.
Neves further commented that speculation around an IPO is a positive change from the rumours of potential closure that surrounded the airline five years ago. However, he reiterated that an IPO is not the primary goal.
Etihad’s expansion strategy includes increasing its destination network to over 125 airports by 2030, from the current 70, and expanding its fleet to over 160 aircraft, up from around 90 today.
