ABU DHABI — Etihad will recruit 2,500–3,000 employees every year for the next five years to support rapid expansion, the airline said. The hiring drive accompanies a plan to add about 20 aircraft per year, CEO Antonoaldo Neves told the media. The moves follow a record intake and fleet growth in 2025.
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Annual Recruitment Drive
Etihad confirmed it will sustain a large annual recruitment programme to match fleet deliveries and network growth. The airline hired more than 3,200 staff in 2025 and promoted roughly 2,200 internally, company figures show. Recent recruitment in 2025 included about 1,600 cabin crew and nearly 400 pilots — frontline roles that remain a priority for the new intake.
“We’re going to keep that range, from 2,500 to 3,000 hires per year, and we’re going to keep about 20 aircraft per year, so that’s more or less the ratio that we’re going to be doing for the next five years,” CEO Antonoaldo Neves explained.
Recruitment will span flight crew, technical engineers, ground operations, and customer-facing teams. Etihad said it will continue cadet pilot and national-development pathways to boost UAE national representation in technical and flight roles.
Fleet growth and network expansion
Etihad expects roughly 20 new aircraft a year through the coming five years to support increased services from Abu Dhabi. In 2025, the carrier received 29 aircraft, bringing its operating fleet to an all-time high. Deliveries have included narrow- and wide-body types used on short and long haul routes.
The carrier has already expanded its destination list in 2025, increasing scheduled points from 94 to 110 cities. Executives say the steady delivery cadence allows higher frequencies and new direct services.
Operational and Implementation Timeline
- 2025 hires: 3,200+ new employees; ~2,200 internal promotions.
- Recent crew hires: ~1,600 cabin crew; ~400 pilots.
- 2025 fleet additions: 29 aircraft; operating fleet at record size.
- Planned cadence: ≈20 aircraft delivered per year over the next five years.
CEO Antonoaldo Neves delivered the guidance as the airline outlined its capacity and staffing plans to meet demand and aircraft delivery schedules.
