March 7 (Reuters) - Abu Dhabi wealth fund ADQ has chosen

advisers including HSBC Holdings ( HSBC ), Citigroup ( C/PN ) and

First Abu Dhabi Bank for a potential initial public

offering of Etihad Airways, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday.

Europe-based Rothschild & Co is acting as an independent

financial adviser to ADQ, which owns the United Arab Emirates'

national carrier, the report said, citing people familiar with

the matter.

The fund had previously been weighing a direct listing for

Etihad instead of a traditional IPO, the report said.

Citigroup ( C/PN ) declined to comment. ADQ, HSBC ( HSBC ), Etihad, FAB and

Rothschild did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for

comment.

Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves said on Wednesday the airline

has returned to profit and was improving its transparency,

governance and balance sheet to be ready for an IPO should ADQ

decide to list it.

ADQ has listed several holdings since 2022 as part of a

broader strategy to diversify the oil-rich emirate's economy,

deepen capital markets and spur investment.