São Paulo – Etihad Airways, airline from Abu Dhabi, broke it’s passenger record in 2013, transporting almost 12 million people last year, about 16% more than in 2012. The volume of cargo transported by the company was also the highest in the company’s history, with 486,753 tons, 32% more than in the previous year.
“Our record-breaking numbers in 2013 reflect the continued success of our strategic plan, which focuses on three fundamental pillars; organic network growth, the forging of code share partnerships, and minority equity investments in other airlines,” stated James Hogan, Etihad president and CEO, on a company press release.
Bangkok was the airline’s busiest route in 2013, with a total of 742,759 passengers flying to the Thai capital city, a 7% increase over 2012. The second busiest flight route was Manila, in the Philippines, with 547,068 people, followed by London (544,564 passengers), Jeddah (373,651) and Paris (338,969).
Etihad was responsible for transporting 73% of the more than 16.4 million passengers that travelled through the Abu Dhabi Airport in 2013. According to the company, when considering the flights operated by companies in which Etihad holds shares, this total rises to 79%.
Last year, Etihad added six new cities in it’s flight routes, including São Paulo, in June. As well as the Brazilian city, Washington, Amsterdam, Belgrade, Ho Chi Minh and Sana’a a were also added to the list of cities served by the company.
In 2013, the company also increased it’s code share agreements, including the airlines Kenya Airways, Air Serbia, South African Airways, Belavia, Korean Airlines, Air Canada and airBaltic. With these new agreements and with the investment in shares in other airlines, Etihad gained over 1.8 million passengers in their flights.
As for the increase in the volume of cargo transported, the company says it is due to the increase in capacity of cargo flights and to more cargo being transported in passenger flights. Markets with greatest demand for cargo were China, Hong Kong and India.
*Translated by Silvia Lindsey
