Etihad Airways is preparing another major order for widebody aircraft as the Abu Dhabi national carrier bets on continued growth in air travel demand. The airline said the number of flights it operates by mid-June will be about 8% higher than a year earlier.

The planned purchase would add to Etihad’s efforts to expand its long-haul network and strengthen its fleet at a time when many carriers are seeking more aircraft. The company did not give details of the number or type of jets it intends to buy.

The move suggests Etihad remains confident that demand for international travel will continue to rise, even as airlines face pressure from aircraft delivery delays and high competition on major routes. Widebody jets are typically used on longer-haul services and are central to the business plans of Gulf carriers.

Etihad has been steadily rebuilding its operations in recent years after previously cutting back parts of its network. The latest plan points to a further step in that recovery and a push to increase capacity across its route map.

The airline’s forecast of an 8% rise in flights by mid-June indicates a broad increase in activity rather than a single-route expansion. That growth is likely to support more frequencies on existing services and could help Etihad compete for transfer traffic through Abu Dhabi.

Widebody aircraft orders are closely watched in the aviation industry because they often signal confidence in long-term demand. For Etihad, another large deal would mark a continuation of its fleet renewal strategy and underline its ambition to grow alongside the rebound in global travel.

Airlines across the Middle East have been adding aircraft and routes as passenger demand strengthens. Etihad’s latest move places it among carriers using fleet expansion to capture a larger share of the international market.