Etihad Airways is IPO-ready, but no date has been decided yet, says CEO
Etihad Airways is prepared for an IPO as stated by the company’s chief executive, but the exact date is yet to be determined.
“We could go any day. We don't have a date, but we're ready; let me be very blunt about it, we’re set to go on the very day the shareholder chooses to proceed,” said Neves, Group CEO of Etihad Airways.
Neves noted how share buybacks from other competing airlines signal a shift in market profitability, thus showing confidence in the Etihad carrier.
He went on to explain that those competing airline shareholders believe that the industry is profitable and paying out dividends therefore, there’s no need for additional capital. “The balance sheet is robust. And so the shareholder will decide on going for IPO. There is no defined date for that,” he continued.
Persuading documents, Reuters claimed in March 2025 that the state-owned airline of Abu Dhabi plans on going for an IPO worth $1 billion. The rumors surrounding Dubai’s flagship carrier, Emirates Airlines, alongside Etihad have been surfacing for years.
During the press conference at the Arabian Travel Market in May, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, attributed chairman and chief executive of Emirates airline and Group, mentioning that the firm is prepared for an IPO. Furthermore stated that “If the Dubai government calls for us to go public, then I have no choice but to comply"
Dubai and Abu Dhabi investment firms have gone public in recent years to deepen local stock markets, prompting government interest. There has been a strong demand for the UAE IPOs. The latest IPO of Dubai Residential REIT was oversubscribed by 26 times.
Etihad Airways, based in Abu Dhabi, reported an after-tax revenue of Dh685 million for the first quarter, marking a 30% increase from the prior year, supported by the growth in passenger traffic. Restating a 15% increase leading to Dh6.6 billion fueled by passenger and freight services.
The number of passengers rose from 4.3 million to 5.0 million, representing a 16% growth which led to an operating ratio of 87%, improving the load factor.
Purchasing planes almost each month
Etihad Airways announced expanding their fleet last week by including 28 more wide-bodied Boeing aircraft as part of their expansion plans. The deal includes both 787 and 777X Boeings powered by GE engines and backed by a services agreement. These aircraft will start delivery from 2028 and are meant to aid in Etihad’s growth strategies in network expansion, operational productivity, and guestservicing.
Antonoaldo Neves enlisted remarks saying that the airline transfers “purchase planes on a sometimes monthly basis for the last two years." "...and none from the ground," stated Neves, “[in 2022] we had a fleet of 67-70, now it is 100." The requirement arose also due to ‘available’ and ‘without-delay' purchasing of these aircraft ‘which are in the process of coming’.
"We acquired recently,” continued Neves, "and we never announced, more than 60 planes over the past few years. They acquired and leased brand-new planes.” The refocusing on growing the existing destinations led to a rise in demand, “We prefer not to disclose, as we do not reside in the announcement business. Our interests lie solely in ticket sales. So, with every new destination, there is… and we guarantee it, a lot ofactivity.”
As he put it, the latest press release regarding the purchase of 28 Boeing planes during US President Donald Trump’s UAE visit speaks to a new fleet that is expected to materialize post-2030.
“We will maintain our self-imposed limit of two hundred planes because we like to purchase them as we go. That’s a different strategy and model from other airlines. We do that because we want to maintain fleet optionality. I don’t want to be locked into my future. If I buy 200 planes today, I constrain my flexibility. Over the years I’ve observed that smaller orders tend to be flexible,” he said.
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