17th November, 2013
Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways placed an order for 56 Boeing aircraft, including 25 yet-to-be launched long-haul 777X passenger jets, as the Dubai Airshow opened on Sunday.
The order was part of a deal including options for 26 planes, with a total value of $25.2 billion, Etihad chief executive James Hogan said in a joint news conference at the airshow.
The order includes also 30 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, making Etihad the largest customer for the plane with 41 previous orders.
It also includes an order for one 777-200 freighter.
Etihad’s order for the future 777X airliner, a long-range jet capable of handling 350 to 400 passengers, includes 17 of the larger 777-9X model and eight 777-8Xs.
“Today is an important day in the history of Etihad,” said Hogan.
Etihad will be the launch customer for the 777-8X, one of the variants of the new airliner that will enter service around 2020, Boeing said in a statement.
Delivery of the 787 units to Etihad will start in 2018, Hogan said.
Etihad Airways also ordered on Sunday 87 Airbus planes, including 50 extra-wide-body A350 XWBs, valued at around $19 billion at list prices.
The order comprises 40 long-haul A350-900s, 10 A350-1000s, one A330-200 freighter, in addition to 26 A321neo and 10 A320neo single-aisle planes, Etihad chief James Hogan said at the Dubai Airshow.
The deal includes options for 30 more planes.