UAE's Etihad Airways has said that its net profits have increased by an impressive 200 per cent during the entire previous year.

The Abu Dhabi based carrier said that its revenues increased 17 per cent during 2012, the company in a statement. The company's revenues increased 17 per cent to $4.8 billion in 2012 compared to $4.1 billion recorded in the previous year.

The airline recorded a net income of $42 million during 2012 compared to $14 million recorded in 2011. The airline had recorded its first ever profits in 2012. The company said that the rise in profits were mainly due to strong improvements in revenues, passengers and cost control.

The total number of passengers increased 23 per cent to 10.3 million compared to 8.4 million in 2011. The passenger numbers were boosted by the partnerships that the airline has forged with other airlines around the world.

James Hogan, the airline's president and chief executive officer said that, "This has been a game-changing year for Etihad Airways. We have delivered improved net profit, the second consecutive year we have been in the black, a remarkable achievement given the youth, ambitious growth and on-going investment made by this airline in a challenging global economic environment,"