Etihad Airways says it witnessed a
29.2 per cent rise in revenues in 2010 to US$ 2,951 million, while
the figure for 2009 was US$ 2,285 million, significantly outpacing
its capacity growth, which saw available seat kilometres (ASKs)
rise 19.5 per cent to 45.1 billion, which was 37.8 billion for
2009.
According to Etihad, the result
marked continued progress towards the airline's goal of break-even
in 2011 and profitability in 2012. Passenger numbers topped
seven million for the first time, up 13.1 per cent to 7.099
million, while seat factors increased by 0.5 percentage points, to
74.0 per cent. Revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) rose 20.1 per
cent from 27.8 billion to 33.4 billion.
The airline says as previously
forecast, it had reported a positive EBITDAR (earnings before
interest, taxation, depreciation, amortisation and rentals) for the
full year, the first time it had achieved this since it was formed
in 2003.
Etihad Airways' Chief Executive
Officer, Mr. James Hogan, comments: "This is a result to
celebrate. In a year in which we dealt with the continuing
effects of global recession, erupting volcanoes, riots in Thailand,
and severe weather across Europe at one of our busiest times of
year, we were still able to deliver an impressive performance.