Etihad Airways has spent US$2.2 billion (£1.1 billion) on an order for 12 new wide-body aircraft from Airbus.
The four A340-600s, five A330s and three A330 freighters are scheduled for delivery between 2008 and 2011 and will increase the Abu Dhabi-based airline’s fleet to 42 aircraft.
Meanwhile the airline has decided to defer the delivery of the four Airbus A380s it ordered in 2004.
Etihad Airways’ chief executive James Hogan said: “We have agreed to defer the A380 delivery date with Airbus to 2013 when our business model and global route network will be better suited to competitive commercial opportunities offered by this aircraft.”