Etihad Airways Careers 2026 – Latest Opportunities at the UAE’s Flag‑Carrier

Ktustudents; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job description

Founded in 2003, Etihad Airways is one of the United Arab Emirates’ two flag‑carrier airlines. It began operations on 5November2003 and is headquartered in KhalifaCity, AbuDhabi. According to the most recent data (July2025), the airline operates over 1000 flights each week to more than 120 passenger and cargo destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and NorthAmerica. Etihad’s fleet has grown rapidly; the airline’s infobox notes a fleet size of 112 aircraft and a network of 120 destinations, and a May2025 traffic report highlighted that the operating fleet reached 100 aircraft with passenger load factors of 87%.

Etihad is embarking on an ambitious Journey2030 strategy, which aims to double its fleet size and triple passenger numbers over the next six years. The strategy includes expanding its route network, investing in additional Airbus and Boeing aircraft and hiring thousands of new employees. In May2025 alone, the airline hired 1685 new staff members and announced plans to recruit a further 1500 employees by the end of 2025, as it prepares to double its workforce by 2030.

Expansion and New Routes for 2025–2026

Etihad’s growth is not limited to fleet and staff. A July2025 press release announced seven new destinations that will join the network between late2025 and mid‑2026. The new routes will connect AbuDhabi to:

• Almaty (Kazakhstan) – Expected launch: March2026 – Notes: Part of wider Central Asian expansion.
• Baku (Azerbaijan) – Expected launch: March2026 – Notes: Adds connectivity to the Caucasus.
• Bucharest (Romania) – Expected launch: March2026 – Notes: Enhances Etihad’s European network.
• Medina (SaudiArabia) – Expected launch: November2025 – Notes: Important spiritual destination; flights start sooner.
• Tbilisi (Georgia) – Expected launch: March2026 – Notes: Connects travellers to the Caucasus.
• Tashkent (Uzbekistan) – Expected launch: March2026 – Notes: Brings Etihad to Central Asia.
• Yerevan (Armenia) – Expected launch: March2026 – Notes: Expands point‑to‑point traffic to the Caucasus.

The announcement noted that the airline had launched or commenced operations to 27 new routes in 2025 and that Etihad planned to add three more seasonal summer destinations in 2026—Krakow (Poland), Salalah (Oman) and Kazan (Russia)—during peak travel months. CEO AntonoaldoNeves emphasised that the goal is to “bring more people directly to AbuDhabi” and that the diverse destinations—ranging from the spiritual significance of Medina to the modern vibrancy of Baku—will stimulate tourism and trade in the UAE.

Current Job Vacancies – Etihad Careers 2026

Etihad’s recruitment drive has continued into 2026. As of 26November2025, the Etihad careers portal lists 50 open positions across a range of departments and geographies. Below is an overview of the types of roles currently available (examples are based on the live vacancies as of November2025):

Cargo and Freight Operations

• Freighter Operations Controller– UAEN (AbuDhabi) – Oversees the integrity of freighter operations, planning and coordination of cargo movements.
• Cargo ControlTower Officer– UAEN (AbuDhabi) – Manages cargo control tower activities and ensures on‑time performance in freighter operations.
• Cargo Contact Centre & ControlTower Manager (AbuDhabi) – Leads cargo control teams and liaises with ground handlers.
• Freighter Operations Controller (AbuDhabi) – Similar to the above but open to non‑UAE nationals.

Revenue, Finance & Procurement

• FlightManager (RevenueManagement) (AbuDhabi) – Oversees revenue management strategies for specific markets.
• ManagerFinance– AccountsPayables (UAENational Only) – Handles payables within the financial reporting & control office.
• ProcurementOfficer (UAENational) – Supports procurement activities within operations excellence.
• ProcurementCoordinator – Provides administrative support for procurement and inventory teams.

Talent Acquisition and People

• Manager, Pilot RecruitmentProgrammes (AbuDhabi) – Designs and delivers recruitment strategies for pilot cadet programmes.
• Brew Your Career:An exclusive hiring experience for talented Emiratis in Data &Insights – A talent‑acquisition programme targeting Emirati nationals with data‑analytics skills.

Commercial & Customer‑Facing Roles

• Manager GlobalAccounts – Manages commercial relationships with major cargo customers.
• SalesRepresentative (Delhi) – Represents Etihad in the Indian market to drive corporate sales.

Engineering and Support Functions

• NetworkPlanning Analyst – Analyses route networks and schedules (AbuDhabi).
• Lead AirworthinessEngineer – EtihadEngineering – Ensures compliance with airworthiness standards for Etihad’s fleet.
• PerformanceEngineer – Provides performance analysis for aircraft operations.

These examples demonstrate the diversity of opportunities—spanning cargo operations, corporate roles, finance, engineering, talent acquisition and regional sales. Candidates should regularly visit the official Etihad careers portal, as positions can change quickly and new vacancies are added as the airline’s growth accelerates.

How to Apply for Etihad Airways Jobs (2026)

To apply for a role at Etihad Airways in 2026, follow the steps below:

1. Visit the official Etihad careers site: Go to the Etihad careers portal (jobs.etihad.com) via the FindJobs section on careers.etihad.com.
2. Search for open roles: Use keywords, department filters or location filters to refine the list of vacancies.
3. Select a position: Click on the job title to view the detailed description, responsibilities and qualifications. Review these carefully to ensure you meet the requirements.
4. Create or sign in to your candidate profile: Applicants must create a candidate account or sign in to an existing account to submit applications.
5. Complete the application: Fill out the online application form with accurate personal information, upload your résumé/CV and any supporting documents, and answer any pre‑screening questions.
6. Submit the application: After reviewing your details for accuracy, submit the application. Etihad advises applicants to beware of recruitment fraud; the airline does not request payments or sensitive financial information.

Conclusion

Etihad Airways is entering 2026 with strong momentum. With a fleet exceeding 100 aircraft, network expansion to over 120 destinations, and a Journey2030 strategy aiming to double fleet size and triple passenger numbers, the airline is investing heavily in people and infrastructure. Press releases from mid‑2025 announced seven new destinations—Almaty, Baku, Bucharest, Medina, Tbilisi, Tashkent and Yerevan—bringing the total number of new routes launched in 2025 to 27.

To support this growth, Etihad’s recruitment drive has resulted in 50 open positions across cargo operations, revenue management, finance, procurement, talent acquisition, engineering and customer‑facing roles. Applicants interested in joining this rapidly expanding airline should regularly monitor the official careers portal and follow the application process outlined above. With a commitment to innovation, world‑class service and ambitious expansion plans, Etihad Airways offers a dynamic and rewarding career environment for 2026 and beyond.