Etihad Airways saw revenues climb 28% to US$989 million in the first three months of the year as the carrier confirmed if will fly to South America in 2013.
Details of the destination are being finalised with a launch date mid next year. The carrier will also launch services to Vietnam.
Chief executive James Hogan said expanding its network to South America – its sixth continent – was the logical step and “marks our coming of age as a truly global airline”.
The carrier has already flagged it will step up frequencies to Brisbane from three times weekly to daily in the next 12 months with Perth expected to be added within two years.
Hogan said revenue targets and budgets were hit in the first quarter despite challenging global conditions. But while load factors hit record highs, he warned that yields remain a challenge, particularly in premium cabins.
