Jobs alert: Etihad Airways to hire 1,500 employees in 2025
Workforce of around 12,000 to double by 2030 as fleet grows rapidly
ABU DHABI: Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national carrier, is set to hire 1,500 new employees in 2025 as part of its ambitious growth plan.
The airline currently employs around 12,000 staff representing more than 147 nationalities. By 2030, this number is expected to double as Etihad prepares to significantly expand its fleet and network.
Dr Nadia Bastaki, Chief Human Resources, Organisational Development and Asset Management Officer, confirmed that the airline aims to grow both its manpower and aircraft count. “We will be doubling our manpower overall, as we will get more planes,” she said.
The carrier currently operates 101 aircraft and plans to more than double that figure by the end of the decade.
Who is Etihad looking to hire?
Etihad intends to hire 2,000 people in total this year, including pilots, cabin crew, technicians, and engineers. Of these, 1,500 are expected to join before the end of 2025.
The recruitment includes both expatriate and Emirati professionals, with the airline committing to hire around 300 UAE nationals annually. Among these, 70 will be trained as pilots each year.
The airline recently hosted its first major career fair, Khutwaty 2025, at Yas Island, attracting thousands of young Emiratis. The event is part of the airline’s broader Journey 2030 vision, which places a strong emphasis on nurturing local talent for frontline aviation roles.
How will Etihad manage thousands of applications?
With more than 30,000 applications received for cabin crew positions alone, Etihad is turning to artificial intelligence to streamline its recruitment. “Our chatbot does all the onboarding, payroll transactions, birthday, and anniversary recognition,” said Dr Bastaki. She added that new technologies including AI-led video interviewing, scheduling, and candidate selection are being deployed to manage the high volume of CVs.
The airline received over 2,000 CVs during the Khutwaty fair alone, reflecting strong demand for careers at Etihad. Much of the recruitment technology has been developed internally, though the airline also partners with external providers.
What’s driving this massive growth?
Etihad has undergone a strategic overhaul in recent years, refreshing its long-term plan to align with growth markets, new destinations, and fleet investments. In the past three years, the airline has hired over 4,000 people, and in 2024 alone, it launched services to 16 new destinations.
Chief Executive Officer Antonoaldo Neves highlighted the dynamic environment at Etihad during the career fair. “Etihad is an amazing place to work because the airline is growing,” he said. “Every time you experience double-digit growth, everyone gets stretched. And if you get stretched, you learn, and if you learn, you develop.”