Etihad Airways To Add Three New Aircraft, Routes

Regarding the possibility that Abu Dhabi may launch a budget airline, Hogan clarified that “Etihad was not planning to launch any budget airline in the near future or was not intending to join any initiative that Abu Dhabi may be looking at.” He said the airline is optimistic about business prospects for 2010, and hopes to achieve load factors of 76 or 77 percent. Hogan said he is excited about prospects for growth in the Indian and Chinese markets. Etihad Airways carried slightly less than 7 million passengers last year and hopes to carry more than 7 million passengers this year.