Etihad Airways has outlined plans to grow its workforce from roughly 15,000 employees today to 22,000 by 2035, a jump of more than 45 per cent over nine years. The Abu Dhabi-based carrier announced the target alongside figures showing 20 per cent year-on-year growth in operations and a 46 per cent rise in profit.
Dr Nadia Bastaki, Chief People, Government and Corporate Affairs Officer at Etihad, said the airline is targeting a workforce of 22,000 by 2035, more than 45 per cent higher than its current headcount. The airline said it has already hired 1,340 people so far in 2026, with 600 more hires in the pipeline and roughly 300 additional positions expected to be filled by year-end.
Most of the new roles sit in frontline operational areas such as piloting, engineering and technical maintenance. Etihad is also pushing ahead with its Emiratisation efforts, with more than 300 UAE nationals joining through cadet pilot, airport and technician training programmes this year. International recruitment continues in parallel across markets including Europe, Africa and China.
The airline said it now relies on AI-driven recruitment tools to manage the volume of applications, with one system screening more than 50,000 applications within three days. Cabin crew recruitment alone draws more than 100,000 applications a year. Etihad's hiring push comes as it continues to expand its route network and fleet, positioning the growth in staff numbers as a direct response to rising passenger demand and operational scale.