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| ETIHAD A380-861 A6-APE (CN 191) |
Etihad Airways was established as the second flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates in July 2003 by Royal (Amiri) Decree issued by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who wanted an airline for Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saif Al Nahyan established the airline. It started with an initial paid-up capital of AED500 million. Etihad Airways commenced flying on the 5th November 2003, with a single Airbus A330-200 aircraft, which performed a symbolic flight to the emirate of Abu Dhabi’s historic city of Al Ain. Regular commercial flights were then launched on the 12th November of the same year from Abu Dhabi to the Lebanese capital, Beirut. Before the establishment of Etihad, Gulf Air was the only airline based at Abu Dhabi International Airport and was also co-owned by Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman. In June 2004, the airline placed a US$8-billion aircraft order for five Boeing 777-300ERs and 24 Airbus aircraft, including four Airbus A380s. Its first A380 was delivered on the 16th December 2014 (A6-APA - CN 016). In 2008 Etihad announced what was the largest aircraft order in commercial aviation history at the Farnborough Airshow, for up to 205 aircraft—100 firm orders, 55 options, and 50 purchase rights. Then in February 2019, Etihad announced large order cancellations for both Airbus and Boeing aircraft. The airline terminated contracts for all 42 Airbus A350-900s, 2 A350-1000s and 19 of 24 ordered Boeing 777X.
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ETIHAD B787-9 A6-BLV (CN 39676)
SPORTING THE GRAND PRIX LIVERY
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Etihad Airways is the second-largest airline in the UAE (after Emirates). Its head office is in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, near Abu Dhabi's International Airport. The airline operates more than 1,000 flights per week to over 120 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas, with a fleet of 112 Airbus and Boeing aircraft as of October 2019. Etihad Airways holds minority equity investments in the participating airlines, as well as holding a stake in our very own airline, Virgin Australia, which is not officially listed as an Etihad Airways Partner.
Air Serbia (49%)
Air Seychelles (40%)
Virgin Australia (24.2%)
Etihad was ranked 29th in the top 100 airlines for 2019, down 14 places from 15th spot last year. Etihad Airways has been struggling financially for years now but the airline is expecting to return to profitability by 2023. Etihad recorded its third consecutive financial loss. In 2016, the airline lost USD$1.87 billion, in 2017 the airline lost USD$1.52 billion, and in 2018 it lost USD$1.28 billion. 2023 is still four years away, however, the airline is well into a five-year turnaround program and Etihad’s executives appear confident that it will do the trick and see the airline back in the black. .
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