Etihad to take deliveries of nine 777s in 15 months

ABU DHABI — Etihad Airways will take deliveries of nine Boeing aircraft in the next 15 months, which will boost its route expansion ambitions.

By Haseeb Haider

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Thu 13 Sep 2012, 11:47 PM

Last updated: Tue 7 Apr 2015, 11:09 AM

The new aircraft will include two B777-200 freighters, five Boeing 777-300ER three-class aircraft, and two Boeing 777-300ER two-class aircraft, the airline said on Wednesday on occasion of a visit to Boeing’s Everett production facility by a high level delegation led by president and chief executive officer James Hogan.

The delegation comprised top officials of Etihad Airways and airberlin, the two leading customers of Boeing. Etihad Airways owns almost 30 per cent of airberlin, Europe’s sixth largest airline.

The UAE flag carrier prepares to take delivery of more 777s and awaits the arrival of the 787 Dreamliner.

In March, the two carriers announced plans to strengthen their partnership by integrating their respective Boeing 787 Dreamliner programmes. Together, Etihad Airways and airberlin have 56 Dreamliners on order.

Inspecting the 777 and Dreamliner assembly lines, Hogan said: “It is exciting to see these aircraft take shape”.

Hogan said: “Looking beyond the current 777 and Dreamliners orders, Etihad Airways has had constructive discussions with Boeing today about future plans for new wide body fleet types.”

Last December, Etihad Airways announced it was taking its total order book for the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to 41, the first of which arrives in the last quarter of 2014.

The order, valued at $9.3 billion, will make Etihad Airways the largest operator of the aircraft type in the world. The UAE flag carrier has options and purchase rights for an additional 25 aircraft.

Airberlin has 15 Boeing 787s on order with options and purchase rights on a further 20 aircraft.

Etihad Airways has already taken delivery of three Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft in 2012, including the airline’s first three-class aircraft type.

The airline’s current fleet of Boeing aircraft includes: 11 Boeing 777-300ER, one Boeing 777-200 freighter, and one Boeing 747-400 freighter.

“For both carriers the Dreamliner’s arrival will be a positive milestone for two strategically aligned partners, who are looking to successfully work with Boeing on our integrated fleet program”, Hogan said. “Already we are sharing infrastructure, streamlining our purchasing activity for engines, rotables, avionics and in-flight entertainment systems, and are also hard at work on common onboard product specifications for our respective brands which will give passengers a consistent product experience.”

Ray Conner, President and Chief Executive of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, showed his pleasure over Etihad Airways’ confidence in 777 and 787 airplanes.

“We are encouraged by the high-level of performance and operational efficiencies that the 777 provides to Etihad Airways’ current operations,” he said.

And as one of Boeing’s largest 787 Dreamliner customers, he said “we look forward to when this market-leading airplane becomes part of Etihad Airways’ award-winning passenger-service offerings.” 
haseeb@khaleejtimes.com


More news from