Etihad Airways (EY, Abu Dhabi International) may transfer its order of twenty-six A321-200Ns to Air Arabia Abu Dhabi (3L, Abu Dhabi International), its low-cost venture with Air Arabia (G9, Sharjah), says Chief Executive Officer Tony Douglas.
Speaking on the sidelines of the recent CAPA Leader Summit in Manchester, UK, Douglas said Etihad Airways’ future fleet strategy would focus on the B787 and A350-1000, reports RoutesOnline. Both aircraft types had been chosen for their advanced aerostructure, avionics and control systems, and environmental performance, he explained.
“There is, of course, a vital place for [the] next-generation narrowbody, and we’re more likely to operate them through our partnership with Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, of which we own 51%,” he said. The budget carrier currently operates four A320-200s, according to the ch-aviation fleets module.
Etihad Airways unveiled its first A350-1000, A6-XWB (msn 290), on a special inaugural commercial flight from Abu Dhabi International to Paris CDG on March 31, 2022. The airline has taken delivery of the first five of 15 of the type on order, the ch-aviation fleets module reveals.
Etihad Airways has firm orders for eleven B787-9s (with 30 already in service) and twenty-one B787-10s (with nine of the type already in service).
In addition, it has orders for eight B777-8s and seventeen B777-9s, bringing its total order book to 98 aircraft.
Its current fleet of 110 aircraft also includes nineteen A320-200s, ten A321-200, six A330-200s, three A330-300s, and ten A380-800s. Its existing Boeing fleet also includes five B777-200Fs and thirteen B777-300ERs, ch-aviation fleets data shows.
