Etihad readies $20bn aircraft order

HUGE ORDER: Etihad is poised to seal a $20 billion aircraft order for up to 100 planes, Hogan said.

Abu Dhabi-owned Etihad Airways is poised to splash out around $20 billion on up to 100 planes in what would be the biggest aircraft order so far this year, its CEO said on Tuesday.

James Hogan said Etihad was in advanced talks with aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus for "between 50 and 100 aircraft" and a deal could be finalised with in the next couple of months, reported the UK's Daily Telegraph.

First deliveries of the new aircraft, which could include more of Airbus' A380 superjumbos, are earmarked for 2011, Hogan said.

"We're looking at narrow-bodied, wide-bodied and very large aircraft, A380s or B747-8s," he said.

The carrier has ordered four A380’s already, with two to be delivered in 2013 and a further two in 2014.

Etihad and Dubai airline Emirates on Tuesday said that they faced further delays on delivery of the A380, stating that they had received warnings of delays from Airbus - which is already two years behind schedule on production of the superjumbo.

RELATED: Emirates hit by A380 delay

Geert Boven, Etihad executive vice president of sales and services, told ArabianBusiness.com on Tuesday that the airline was so far unaffected by Airbus’ ongoing problems with its A380 due to its late delivery timeframe.

RELATED: Etihad Airways on course to break even by 2010

Etihad, which operates 37 planes, posted a 40% increase in passenger traffic during the first quarter, up to 1.4 million from one million for the same period last year.

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