Etihad Airways said its passenger-carrying capacity is running 15 to 17% above year-earlier levels as Gulf carriers recover from disruption caused by the Iran war, with strong demand expected into the winter travel season. "We are back on track," CEO Antonoaldo Neves told Reuters, adding that Available Seat Kilometres, the industry's standard measure of passenger-carrying capacity, were currently 15 to 17% higher than a year ago. "Flights are full, full, full," he said, noting that load factor reached 92% in August while the airline is targeting an 87% plus load factor for the remainder of the year. The Iran war affected travel earlier this year, pushing fuel prices higher and disrupting flights across the Middle East and beyond, upending the networks of some of the world's biggest Middle Eastern carriers, which have gradually resumed their activity.
Etihad's capacity is up 15-17% with load factor at 92% and strong demand expected into winter as Gulf carriers recover from Iran-war disruption.
