Etihad CEO aims to make China its fastest growing market in 2027

With high expectations for China's long-term growth, Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has unveiled plans to increase its passenger services to China to 35 flights per week by the end of March, up from the current seven flights per week, making China its fastest growing market in 2027.

The company is further expected to double capacity in China in the coming five to seven years, which would make the country the group's top three market in terms of revenue, said Antonoaldo Neves, chief executive officer of Etihad Aviation Group, during an exclusive interview with China Daily. He also praised China's investment on COMAC, a new aircraft manufacturer, saying that "the world needs more companies manufacturing planes."

Ma Tan in Shanghai contributed to the story.