Etihad in $20bn aircraft order

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PLANE SAILING: Etihad are poised to place the biggest ever aircraft order. (Getty Images)

Etihad will place the most valuable commercial aircraft order in aviation history today as the wider airline industry struggles to cope with the financial impact of surging fuel costs.

The national carrier of the UAE will announce an order of close to 100 planes from Boeing and Airbus worth more than US$20bn at list prices on the first day of Britain’s Farnborough Air Show, the Telegraph reported.

Etihad may also place options to buy a range of other aircraft which could take the value of the deal to more than the US$34.9bn in orders placed by Emirates in May, the newspaper said, citing aviation analysts.

Etihad will buy both narrow and wide-bodied aircraft, but it is unclear whether it will include the manufacturers' two new-generation aircraft - Boeing's 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus's A380 super-jumbo.

Etihad's fleet currently has more Airbus aircraft than Boeing aircraft.

Last week Etihad reported a 41% rise in passenger traffic for the first six months and is on course to achieve six million customers by the end of 2008.

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USER COMMENTS (2 COMMENTS)

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RE: ..parallel flights to every destination..??
Posted by Salim ALSuwaidi, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates on 14 July 2008 at 01:28 UAE time

What makes you say that about Etihad?

Etihad started small just like Emirates did, and is growing up.

What made emirates one of the most best airlines in the world? for the huge number or airplanes they have.

Etihad also want to compete with other airlines and with this small number or airplane they can't.

I am a big fan of Etihad Airways and will always support them.

Go Etihad Airways, btw Etihad business class is the best I've ever flown with.

..parallel flights to every destination..??
Posted by Kaptain, KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia on 13 July 2008 at 10:58 UAE time

With oil prices racing upwards what kind of policy assures future customer retention?
Seems like every destination airport in the world would have a ready ETIHAD airplane taxied. Is ETIHAD going to SIBERIA and ALASKA too?

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