Etihad Airways returned to a 92% load factor in August, signalling strong seat demand as the Abu Dhabi carrier increased capacity and worked through disruption from earlier regional conflict. Chief executive Antonoaldo Neves described the airline as back on track while speaking on the sidelines of Arabian Travel Market in Dubai.
Capacity was running about 15% to 17% above last year’s level, yet the airline still filled more seats as it pushed into the second half of 2026. Etihad is targeting an 87%-plus load factor for the rest of the year and expects demand to remain firm into the winter travel season.
Neves also pointed to a network operating at about 320 flights a day, roughly 20% more than a year earlier, underlining the scale of the recovery. The airline’s full cabins reflect a rebound after airspace disruption tied to the Iran war earlier in the year, even as it continued expanding its schedule and capacity.