Etihad Chief Commercial Officer Arik De Departs With Immediate Effect
Etihad Airways has quietly removed Arik De from its leadership page after the Chief Commercial Officer left the airline with immediate effect.
By The Aviation Hub
3 min read
Updated October 8, 2026 
Etihad Airways Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer Arik De has left the Abu Dhabi carrier with immediate effect. No replacement has been announced, and the airline has declined to give any reason for the departure.
The news first emerged on a Thursday morning when De's profile disappeared from Etihad's official leadership page. Within hours, De had published a farewell post on LinkedIn confirming the move, according to Paddle Your Own Kanoo.
What Arik De Said on LinkedIn
In his post, De wrote: "Today, nearly 5 years later, a wonderful chapter of my life comes to an end. Proud to have been part of the great Etihad transformation — from an airline with 3B USD in revenue to nearly 10B USD, and a sustainable profit trajectory that allows for a bright future."
He added: "The one that makes me most proud is the team I leave behind. The team who really deserve all the credit for where Etihad is today."
De also offered thanks to Abu Dhabi and the UAE, writing: "Without the platform this country provides, I could not have gone beyond borders of what was deemed possible."
As One Mile at a Time notes, De's post thanks a number of individuals by name. Notably absent from those thanks is CEO Antonoaldo Neves.
Etihad Remains Tight-Lipped on the Departure
Etihad has offered no public statement and declined to provide comment when approached, according to Paddle Your Own Kanoo. The airline's leadership page was quietly updated to remove De's profile shortly after the news broke.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo points out that Etihad normally announces key leadership changes well in advance. In this case, no successor has been lined up, which has added to questions surrounding the circumstances of the departure.
No replacement has been named for the Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer role.
De's Career at Etihad
De first joined Etihad in December 2022 as Chief Revenue Officer, according to One Mile at a Time. He was promoted to Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer in December 2023.
Before joining Etihad, De held roles at WestJet, AirAsia, Aeromexico and TAP Air Portugal. He arrived at Etihad as part of a management team that came in alongside CEO Antonoaldo Neves, who was himself previously at TAP Air Portugal.
As recently as last month, De was publicly promoting Etihad's new premium lounge concept, which is set to begin rolling out in 2027, Paddle Your Own Kanoo reports.
The Fake LinkedIn Profile Controversy
De's departure carries added context. In 2024, One Mile at a Time reported on allegations made by a former airline executive who accused another executive of creating a fake LinkedIn alter ego, named "Ivander Sebastian," which was used to praise Etihad and De while criticising De's former employers including WestJet, AirAsia and TAP Air Portugal.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo notes that it was suggested De was involved with the fake profile. The episode brought significant attention and scrutiny to his public conduct.
You can follow the latest developments across Etihad and other carriers using our Airline Search tool.
The Bottom Line
The abruptness of Arik De's exit from Etihad, with no warning, no named successor and no statement from the airline, points to a departure that was not planned in the usual way. Etihad has said nothing publicly, and De's own LinkedIn post, while positive in tone, does not read as that of someone who chose their own moment to leave.
What drove the decision remains unclear. Etihad's silence means the airline's version of events may not emerge at all. For now, one of the carrier's most senior commercial roles sits vacant with no public timeline for a resolution.
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