Etihad Airways has experienced one of the busiest travel periods in the history of the airline during Eid-Al-Fitr. During Eid-Al-Fitr, 291,518 guests flew across Etihad’s global network, an increase of 12 per cent on the 260,641 guests flown in the same five day period in 2014.
The load factor out of Abu Dhabi during this period rose from 82.1 per cent in 2014 to 82.3 per cent in 2015, with a network-wide seat factor of 78.3 per cent. The airline operated 83 more flights out of the hub than during Eid-Al-Fitr in 2014.
In anticipation of the demands that the peak summer period brings, Etihad Airways and its Abu Dhabi airport partners prepared and implemented a number of key initiatives at the hub including amending the flight schedule to improve connectivity, the provision of complimentary coach and bus services, additional baggage allowances and Etihad Guest miles for early and off-peak check-in, as well as the deployment of 100 extra ground staff.
More than 100 additional Etihad Airways staff members were temporarily recruited from across the organisation to assist guests at check-in and at boarding gates, and cabin crew offered Iftar and Eid-Al-Fitr refreshments to those at check-in, security, and immigration.
Among the special initiatives aimed at improving the guest experience was an off-peak check-in at Abu Dhabi airport, with more than 3,100 guests taking advantage of the service which operated every day between 1am and 6am and 1pm and 6pm.
Guests checking-in during these off-peak periods received an Etihad Guest voucher worth 2,500 miles, as well as 5kg additional baggage, and a free one hour SkyPark parking pass to use during the process.
