The Gulf carrier is seeking to reposition itself as a mid-sized, full-service carrier, with a focus on its wide-body aircraft, as it adapts to a marketplace it believes "has changed for the foreseeable future".

Etihad said the new structure was designed to support growth when air travel resumes, and ensure "long-term sustainability".

Chief commercial officer Robin Kamark will leave the business, with his responsibilities to be shared among chief operating officer Mohammad Al Bulooki, chief financial officer Adam Boukadida, and Terry Daly, who will assume the role of executive director guest experience, brand and marketing.

Duncan Bureau, senior vice-president sales and distribution, will also leave the carrier, with Martin Drew picking up Bureau’s portfolio.

Other departures include chief transformation officer Akram Alami and chief risk and compliance officer Mutaz Saleh.

Chief digital officer Frank Meyer, chief engineering officer Abdul Khaliq Saeed, and chief investments officer Andrew Macfarlane, all retain their roles.

Tony Douglas, Etihad aviation group chief executive, said: "None of us could have predicted the challenges that lay ahead in the remainder of this year.

"As a responsible business, we can no longer continue to incrementally adapt to a marketplace we believe has changed for the foreseeable future.

"That is why we are taking definitive and decisive action to adjust our business and position ourselves proudly as a mid-sized carrier.

"The first stage of this is an operational model change that will see us restructure our senior leadership team and our organisation to allow us to continue delivering on our mandate, ensuring long-term sustainability, and contributing to the growth and prominence of Abu Dhabi."