Record passenger growth tops impressive year

Abu Dhabi: Etihad Airways flew more than six million passengers in 2008, a 34 per cent jump on 2007.

The growth during 2008, Etihad's fifth year of operations, saw passenger numbers total 6,021,931 and the average seat factor rise from 68 per cent to 75 per cent.

The airline has also taken delivery of nine new aircraft boosting its fleet to a total of 42.

Etihad launched six new routes in 2008 Beijing, Minsk, Almaty, Kozhikode, Chennai and Moscow as well as signing a record order of $43 billion at the Farnborough International Airshow for up to 205 Airbus and Boeing aircraft.

Capping a hugely successful year, a record 20,937 passengers flew with Etihad on Friday, making it the airline's busiest day.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways' chief executive, said: "Despite the impact of the global economic downturn, Etihad performed extremely well in 2008 and we hit our target of flying more than six million passengers during the year.

All of Etihad's passenger cabins experienced significant seat factor growth during 2008. The airline achieved average seat factors in its economy cabin of 77 per cent with flights to the Asia-Pacific region rising to 84 per cent.

Average seat factors in business class rose to 63 per cent during 2008 with flights to European destinations averaging seat factors of 73 per cent.