Etihad Orders First A330neos, Buys More A350s

Airline officials said the new aircraft will strengthen medium- and long-haul operations.

Etihad A350
An Etihad A350 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
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Key Takeaways:

In the latest news from the Dubai Airshow, Etihad on Tuesday ordered its first Airbus A330neo aircraft while also upping its commitment for two A350 variants.

The Emirati carrier agreed to buy six A330-900s, together with seven additional A350-1000s and three more A350Fs. With the latest orders, Etihad’s total number of A350-1000s either delivered or on order grows to 27, while its commitment for the A350F rises to 10.

The A350F is the freighter variant of the A350-1000. It is expected to enter service in 2027.

According to Airbus, Etihad will also lease nine A330-900s from aircraft leasing company Avolon.

Airbus A330neo
An Airbus A330neo demonstrator aircraft. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

In a statement, Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves said the orders will strengthen the carrier’s medium- and long-haul and cargo operations.

“Our partnership with Airbus continues to play an important role in shaping our future fleet, and we are proud to be building one of the world’s most modern and efficient widebody operations,” he said.

The airline currently operates a mix of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, including the A320, A321, A380, 787, and 777-300ER.

Zach Vasile

Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
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