Abu Dhabi's Etihad said to focus on being a mid-sized carrier

Abu Dhabi's Etihad is reorganizing itself into a mid-sized carrier focused on direct flights in an attempt to return to profit, Reuters reported, citing group chief executive officer Tony Douglas.

The airline has reorganized into seven business units, which are directly reporting to Douglas, as opposed to individual businesses operating under a group structure set up earlier.

Douglas said the airline is becoming “more rational” and would not shy away from dropping routes that were commercially unsustainable.

“Some senior and mid-management employees will lose their jobs and others will be moved into new positions,” the CEO added.

At present, Etihad employs around 23,000 people.