Etihad Airways is set to exceed its pre-Iran War capacity within weeks without aggressive price cuts, CEO Antonoaldo Neves announced. The Abu Dhabi-based airline, grounded when regional conflict began February 28, now operates at 90% of prewar "available seat kilometres" and will surpass 100% by June 15.

US and India markets are driving Etihad's recovery, with planes 84% full and fares at pre-conflict levels. The airline is deploying two A380s daily from July to handle strong demand from Paris to Asia via Abu Dhabi. Neves dismissed industry expectations of price cuts as "bullshit," noting jet fuel costs have doubled.

Etihad faces delays in achieving its 10% operating margin target, now expected by August instead of this year. The airline, owned by Abu Dhabi's L'imad sovereign wealth fund, maintained operations safely during the conflict and won't need additional funding.