Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has reported double-digit growth in passenger and cargo volumes during the first half of 2014, marking its strongest ever performance for the six-month period, with total revenues increasing to $3.2 billion.

A total of 6.7 million passengers traveled with the airline between January and June this year, almost 22 percent higher than the 5.5 million passengers in the same period last year.

Etihad Cargo also outperformed the global market, carrying 268,713 tons of freight and mail during the first half of 2014, up 25 percent year-on-year, and contributing significantly to the airline’s total revenue. It remains on track to become a billion dollar business in 2014.

The impressive performance was supported by Etihad Airways’ continued growth in the second quarter of 2014, with 3.5 million passengers and 140,892 tons of freight and mail carried over the three-month period, both up 25 percent on the same period last year.

James Hogan, president and CEO of Etihad Airways, said: “At a time when the global airline industry has struggled with high fuel prices, intense competition and a slowdown in the cargo market, Etihad Airways has achieved record success, carrying more passengers and cargo to more destinations around the world, with our biggest fleet to date.”

Passenger and cargo volumes were boosted by the fast-paced growth of Etihad Airways’ global route network, with 98 destinations operational by the end of H1 2014, compared to 92 in the same period last year.

Following the launch of Madinah flights in the first quarter of 2014, the second quarter included the start of new services to Jaipur, Zurich and Los Angeles, while frequencies increased on five existing routes, including Moscow and Cochin. The airline’s network will increase to 103 destinations by the end of the year.