The Abu Dhabi-based airline carried over 4.6m passengers last year, compared to 2.8m in 2006.

The carrier also saw significant increases in load factors, or the amount of seats sold per flight. The average over the year was 69 per cent with economy class averaging 71 per cent.

The company saw its biggest increases in business and first class seats. Average loads in business class rose 46 per cent to 61 per cent, while in first, loads rose 75 per cent. The airline’s best performing business class routes were Toronto, London Heathrow, Sydney and Geneva.

Chief executive officer James Hogan welcomed the results as proof of the success of Etihad’s expansion policy in 2007, which resulted in the airline bringing 13 aircraft into its fleet and add nine new destinations to its network.