Etihad aspires to triple passengers and double fleet

Etihad aims to triple the number of passengers it carriers to 30 million and nearly double its fleet to 150 planes by the end of the decade, the airline's chief told Reuters.

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Etihad's plans come amid a shift in its strategy to focus on medium to long-haul destinations, moving away from operating ultra-long-haul flights where competition is intense and profitability challenging, CEO Antonoaldo Neves said. Last October, Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund ADQ took full control of the airline, appointing Neves who had previously led a turnaround at Portugal's TAP.

"Etihad has India as a priority," Neves said, adding that the country is among its top three markets. He declined to name the other two.

The idea is to connect places like China, Southeast Asia, India and GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries to Europe and the East Coast of the US, Neves said.