Etihad Airways has been celebrating a range of prestigious award wins over the course of 2024, capped by recent successes at the World Travel Awards Grand Final Gala Ceremony in Madeira.

Here Breaking Travel News takes a look back over the past 12-months to explore how the airline has captured the imagination of judges, voters and industry-insiders – and looks ahead to 2025.

Etihad Airways, the flag-carrier of the United Arab Emirates, was recognised on both a regional and global level by World Travel Awards this year.

On a global level, Etihad Airways was recognised by voters with a trio of top prizes, including the prestigious title of World’s Leading Airline – Customer Experience 2024.

Voters also selected Etihad as both World’s Leading Airline Lounge – First Class 2024 and World’s Leading Airline – Economy Class 2024.

Warm hospitality is the hallmark of Etihad Airways guest experience, which is inspired by traditional Emirati hospitality.

The airline is currently recruiting new cabin crew globally to join its team based in Abu Dhabi.

Following a thorough selection process, cabin crew will be trained to the highest standards of safety, service and hospitality.

Antonoaldo Neves, Group Chief Executive Officer with Etihad Airways, has led the carrier to renewed success

Antonoaldo Neves, chief executive at Etihad Airways, said: “Our people are our most important asset, and I couldn’t be prouder of our team at Etihad Airways.

“We are honoured to receive these awards which are a testament to the hard work, passion and commitment of our people.

“On behalf of the Etihad family, I would like to express our sincerest thanks to our guests, our partners and the travel and tourism industry.”

Earlier in the year, during the Middle East Gala Ceremony hosted in Dubai, the carrier was presented with prizes for Middle East’s Leading Cabin Crew 2024, Middle East’s Leading Airline Lounge – First Class 2024, Middle East’s Leading Airline Inflight Entertainment 2024, Middle East’s Leading Airline – Economy Class 2024 and Middle East’s Leading Airline – Customer Experience 2024.

Elsewhere, Etihad Airways picked up a double award scoop for its esteemed cabin crew on the opening day of the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai.

The Business Traveller ME Awards took place during an elegant ceremony at the Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre, among an audience of travel industry leaders and media professionals.

At the gala, Etihad took to the stage to receive the award for the Best Cabin Crew for the fourth consecutive year, as well as Best Economy Class.

The winners were decided by votes cast online by travellers and readers of Business Traveller Middle East magazine and independently verified.

Etihad Airways was also recognised with 16 awards at the annual World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo in Hamburg, a record number of awards for Etihad in one week.

The awards celebrate excellence in inflight product design, amenities and hospitality.

Renowned as a trailblazer in the aviation industry, Etihad was recognised with multiple awards for its new amenity kits in partnership with Giorgio Armani and ESPA, new loungewear in partnership with Giorgio Armani, iconic economy amenity tote bag, as well as the tableware and meal service across both the business class and economy cabins.

John Wright, chief operations and guest officer at Etihad, said: “We are committed to giving flight to ambition, and these awards both recognise and celebrate our teams’ dedication to providing an extraordinary travel experience for our guests.

“On behalf of the Etihad family, I would like to express our sincerest thanks to our partners including Giorgio Armani and ESPA, as well as our suppliers, who have collaborated with us to create these remarkable products and experiences.

“I would also like to thank the travel and tourism industry for this recognition.”

In the PAX International Awards, celebrating the best in terms of passenger experience, Etihad was awarded the Best First Class Amenity once again, as well as the Best Economy Class Amenity Kit in the Middle East for its complimentary tote bag complete with hand cream and handy amenities.

The judges also recognised Etihad’s culinary efforts and overall enhancement of its dining proposition with the award for Outstanding Food Service by a Carrier for the Middle East.

Etihad’s new first and business class lounges at Zayed International Airport were also winners in the lounge category.

The spaces span three floors and offer an abundance of dining options, including live cooking stations and the stunning roof level ‘Constellation Bar’.

In the Onboard Hospitality Awards, Etihad won Trendsetter of the Year for its closed-loop recycling sustainable tableware in economy class – a concept which is gaining traction in the industry.

The airline also won best First Class Amenity Kit for its new Giorgio Armani folio bag which comes with ESPA skincare and wellness products and Giorgio Armani loungewear; as well as Best Wearable Textile for its Giorgio Armani Loungewear.

Etihad was also highly commended for its business class and economy class amenity kits as well as its tableware in partnership with Armani Casa in business class.

The carrier also achieved a Five Star Rating for its passenger amenities in the TravelPlus Awards - and was the Gold winner in the Middle East for its Business class tableware and new range of business class amenity kits with Giorgio Armani and ESPA.

Etihad also celebrated its 20th anniversary with a limited-edition amenity kit featuring a design inspired by its original livery, which was also awarded Gold.

Highly commended recognition went to Etihad for its First Class Unisex Amenity kits and business class loungewear.

From a sustainability perspective, Etihad Airways has been awarded the AirlineRatings.com Environmental Airline of the Year for 2024.

This is the third year in a row that Etihad has won this prestigious award.

Airlineratings.com editor-in-chief, Geoffrey Thomas, said “Etihad Airways has demonstrated its leadership in the push for sustainable flight with its Greenliner Boeing 787 program and in 2022 with its Sustainability50, A350 aircraft.

“In every aspect, Etihad Airways staff and management are committed to reducing the airline’s CO2 footprint and it shows.

“The rallying saying for the staff is a million things count in reducing emissions and thus the staff focus is all-consuming.”

Thomas added: “The airline’s Sustainability Report 2021-2022 demonstrates the potential advancements to be made in sustainable aviation by a wide range of initiatives, coordinated to achieve a 20 per cent reduction in emissions intensity in its passenger fleet by 2025, cut 2019 net emissions by 50 per cent by 2035, and reach net-zero emissions by 2050.”

Etihad Airways Sustainability Report is a benchmark for the industry and demonstrates the potential advancements to be made in sustainable aviation by a wide range of initiatives.

Finally, Etihad Airways was named a winner of the 2024 PROS Customer Outperformer Award in the Profit Booster category.

The accolade, awarded by PROS - the market-leading provider of airline revenue management software and AI-powered modern airline retailing solutions - recognises businesses that have achieved remarkable expansion in overall profitability or substantial improvements in profit margins.

It comes off the back of record-breaking annual results for the airline in 2023.

Wei Jin, Etihad vice-president of revenue management, said: “The award is a testament to the hard work and dedication that the team has put in to really improve our revenue position over the course of the last year, and which, alongside the airline’s work on controlling costs, has contributed to our profit improvement.

“It is very humbling to be recognised in this way by PROS, the world’s leader in revenue management systems used by airlines worldwide.”

PROS Revenue Management (PROS RM) is the market-leading revenue management solution in the airline industry.

Powered by proven AI and machine learning, PROS RM forecasts and optimises bid prices, allowing airlines to tackle demand fluctuations and market volatility with certainty.

More Information

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, was formed in 2003 and quickly went on to become one of the leading airlines in the world.

From its home in Abu Dhabi, Etihad flies to passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America.

Together with codeshare partners, the network offers access to hundreds of international destinations.

In recent years, Etihad has received numerous awards for its superior service and products, cargo offering, loyalty programme and more.

Find out more on the official website.