UAE flag-carrier Etihad Airways received its second Design Airline of the Year title, as well as the Design Airline of the Year – Middle East at the 2024 DesignAir Awards.

With a reputation for extraordinary hospitality, Etihad is renowned for its signature design, from the aircraft’s striking tail fin featuring the facets of Abu Dhabi to the small details such as mood lighting in the cabin. 

Etihad Airways continues to significantly invest in the guest experience, introducing new menus, new amenities in partnership with Giorgio Armani and leading skincare brand ESPA, and remarkable new lounges at Zayed International Airport.

Etihad CEO Antonaoaldo Neves said of the award: “We are grateful for these industry awards that recognise our commitment to delivering extraordinary customer experiences for our guests. Etihad is well-known for its pioneering design ethos and bringing innovation to the cabin environment, and we’re looking forward to 2025 where we will continue to build on this with new and industry-leading design concepts.”

Exceptionally stylish yet timeless

From the airline’s lounges to the uniforms, Armani Casa amenities and soft product, Etihad left no stone unturned or detail to chance in creating a harmonious passenger experience that has Etihad’s brand at its heart. 

A quiet, understated luxury is a refreshing change in the region, and Etihad has struck the right balance between luxury and opulence that leaves a lasting impression on its guests. 

This prompted The DesignAir founder and CEO Jonny Clark to say: “We applaud Etihad for continuing to double down on the passenger experience in a period of growth and look forward to yet more design innovations and developments from the airline in 2025 and beyond.”

Recently, Etihad also picked up three awards in the global edition of the World Travel Awards 2024, receiving a hat-trick of awards for Best Customer Experience, Best Economy Class, and Best First Class Lounge at Zayed International Airport.