Etihad Airways to Hire 7,000 More Staff by 2035, With 3,000+ Hires Needed in 2026
Etihad plans to grow its workforce to 22,000 by 2035. It needs more than 3,000 new hires in 2026, mostly pilots, technicians and engineers, and uses AI to screen over 100,000 cabin crew applications.
UAEIn brief
- Etihad Airways plans to hire about 7,000 more employees and reach a workforce of 22,000 by 2035.
- It needs more than 3,000 new hires in 2026, mostly frontline roles such as pilots, technicians and engineers.
- About 1,340 people had been hired in 2026 by mid-September, with 600 more in the pipeline.
- Etihad uses AI to screen applications. Cabin crew roles alone attract more than 100,000 applicants.
| Country | UAE |
|---|---|
| Organization | Etihad Airways |
| Official source | Khaleej Times – Etihad Airways to recruit 7,000 new employees by 2035 ✓ khaleejtimes.com |
Etihad Airways, the UAE's national airline, plans to add about 7,000 employees by 2035, taking its total workforce to 22,000. The plan was outlined by Dr Nadia Bastaki, Etihad's chief people, government and corporate affairs officer, as reported by Khaleej Times.
The hiring plan
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Expected headcount by end of 2026 | About 15,000 |
| New hires needed in 2026 | More than 3,000 |
| Hired in 2026 so far (by mid-September) | About 1,340 |
| In the pipeline | About 600, plus around 300 more expected by year-end |
| Workforce target for 2035 | 22,000 |
Most of the 2026 hiring is for frontline roles, especially pilots, technicians and engineers. Etihad's operations are growing by about 20% a year.
Hiring continued during the six months of regional disruption, when about 700 new staff were onboarded, mostly online.
How Etihad recruits
- Monthly recruitment campaigns inside and outside the UAE. A European campaign has just finished, and campaigns in Africa and China are planned.
- Hiring through LinkedIn and international roadshows.
- AI screening: Etihad's system can review and rank more than 50,000 applications in under three days. Cabin crew roles alone draw over 100,000 applications.
Opportunities for Emiratis
More than 300 UAE nationals are expected to join this year through Etihad's cadet, airport and technician programmes, and some core grades are reserved for UAE nationals.
Career growth
Cabin crew can be promoted to purser within 18 months, according to the airline.
What it means for job seekers
- Pilots, aircraft technicians and engineers are the biggest need. Keep your licences and type ratings up to date.
- Cabin crew applicants: with over 100,000 applications, a clear, keyword-rich CV matters, because AI screens it first.
- Apply only through Etihad's official careers site. Etihad does not charge for applications.
See also: Etihad cabin crew requirements and recruitment days.
Frequently asked questions
How many people is Etihad hiring?
Etihad plans to recruit about 7,000 more employees by 2035, growing to 22,000 staff. It needs more than 3,000 new hires in 2026 alone.
What jobs is Etihad hiring for?
Mostly frontline roles such as pilots, technicians and engineers, as well as cabin crew and other departments.
How does Etihad screen job applications?
Etihad uses AI for virtual interviews and screening. Its system can review and rank more than 50,000 applications in under three days, before human interviews.
Apply only through the official source.
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