Etihad profit jumps 48% in '13 to US$62m

[ABU DHABI] Etihad Airways posted a 48 per cent leap in 2013 profit yesterday and predicted more growth this year as the fast-expanding Abu Dhabi airline aims to develop its alliance network with a potential investment in Italy's Alitalia.

Etihad, which has minority stakes in seven airlines including Air Berlin and Virgin Australia, earned a net profit of US$62 million last year, up from US$42 million in 2012.

Revenue rose 27 per cent in 2013 to US$6.1 billion, the state-owned carrier said in a statement.