ABU DHABI, 19 February 2025: Etihad Airways will launch flights to Sochi, the gateway city to the northeast coast of the Black Sea, starting 29 May.

The route debuts this summer, providing guests with nonstop access to the Krasnodar Krai region, home to stunning summer beaches and mountains, as well as winter skiing and snowboarding in the nearby Caucasus Mountains, made famous by the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Etihad will fly three weekly services* between Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Sochi International Airport (AER).

The Russian Riviera offers a mix of natural beauty and cultural history and will become a popular choice for guests seeking relaxation and adventure. This new route further underlines Etihad’s commitment to providing exceptional travel experiences and expanding access to exciting new markets.

The flights are on sale now and will operate three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays using one of the airline’s A320 family aircraft. There are eight seats in business and 150 in economy.

The announcement is the latest new route unveiled by Etihad and is the 14th new destination the airline is adding to its network this year. 

Etihad will also commence flights to Atlanta, Hanoi, Hong Kong and Taipei, as well as to the European capitals of Prague and Warsaw. Expanding its network across North Africa, Etihad will begin flying to Algiers, Tunis and Al Alamein.

Additionally, Etihad will bolster its network across Southeast Asia, with new connections directly to Chiang Mai and Krabi in Thailand, Medan on the island of Sumatra and the cultural city of Phnom Penh. These join existing popular destinations across Southeast Asia, including Phuket and Bangkok.

SINGAPORE, 18 February 2025: Air Arabia, a low-cost carrier operator in the Middle East and North Africa, has announced its financial and operational results for the year ending 31 December 2024.

The airline posted a record pre-tax net profit of AED1.6 billion, a 4% increase from AED1.5 billion in 2023. Total turnover for the year surpassed AED6.63 billion, an 11% growth from AED6 billion in 2023.

In 2024, Air Arabia reinforced its commitment to expansion and operational excellence by growing its network across six hubs and adding 31 new routes. This strategic expansion led to a 13% increase in operational capacity and a 12% rise in total passengers carried, reaching 18.8 million across the group. The airline also reported a 2% increase in average seat load factor, reaching 82%, further underscoring the sustained strong demand for Air Arabia’s value-driven, low-cost services.

In the fourth quarter ending 31 December 2024, Air Arabia reported a record net profit of AED351 million, marking a 56% increase compared to AED225 million in the same quarter last year. Total turnover for the fourth quarter of 2024 rose 7% to AED1.65 billion, driven by an 11% increase in passenger numbers, as the airline carried over 4.7 million passengers across all hubs during the quarter. Meanwhile, the seat load factor increased by 2, reaching 83%, reflecting sustained demand for Air Arabia’s services.

Full-year financial performance

Full Year 2024 Highlights:

Fleet

• Air Arabia’s total operating fleet expanded to 81 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft across all hubs.
• Ten Airbus A320 aircraft were added to the fleet in 2024, further strengthening operational capacity.
• Nine short-term leased Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft were introduced in 2024 to support peak-season operations across the group.

Network

• Air Arabia added 31 new routes to its global network in 2024, bringing the total network size to 220 routes from all operating hubs.
• The capacity available across all hubs increased by 13% during the full year 2024 compared to the previous year.