Etihad Airways is ramping up its recruitment efforts with plans to hire an additional 1,500 employees by the end of 2025, according to a report by Gulf News. This move follows the onboarding of 1,685 new staff earlier this year, bringing the airline’s total workforce to around 12,000.
Dr. Nadia Bastaki, Chief Human Resources, Organisational Development and Asset Management Officer at Etihad, confirmed that the airline is actively hiring for vital roles, including pilots, cabin crew, and engineers. The recruitment drive is part of a broader strategy to support the airline’s fleet and network expansion leading up to 2030.
“Etihad has been doing well in terms of strategy,” Dr. Bastaki said. “We refreshed our 2030 strategy to ensure we catch up more with markets, which areas will apply, what fleet types we want to invest in, and how we expand our network.”
She highlighted that 16 new destinations were added just last year, and the current fleet now stands at 101 aircraft. Over the past three years, the airline has welcomed more than 4,000 new employees across various departments.
Etihad is not only focused on global talent but also committed to fostering Emirati participation in the aviation industry. The airline aims to hire 1,000 UAE nationals over the next five years, targeting about 250–300 new Emirati recruits annually. These roles include positions for pilots and participants in the airport manager training program.
At the Khutwaty 2025 career fair, Etihad Airways CEO Antonoaldo Neves emphasized the value of Emirati talent: “We want the best to come. Etihad is an amazing place to work because the airline is growing. Every time you experience double-digit growth, everyone gets stretched, and if you get stretched, you learn, and if you learn, you develop.”