Etihad places $1.09 billion Boeing order

NEW Middle Eastern carrier Etihad Airways has placed a $1.09 billion order for five Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

It is the first order Etihad has placed with Boeing, with the initial delivery scheduled for October 2005, followed by two each in November and December 2005. The deal means Etihad will have its own aircraft in place much sooner than anticipated. Currently all its aircraft are leased.

Chairman Dr Ahmed Bin Saif Al Nahyan said the aircraft’s capacity and range will help the carrier’s expansion to new routes in Asia, Europe and North America.

“This aircraft fits so well with out fleet objectives for expansion and its wide, roomy cabins offers us the interiour options that truly will make it a distinctive experience for our guests,” he said.

Etihad, funded by the United Arab Emirates government, kicked off its shopping spree in July at the Farnborough Air Show when it placed a giant order with Airbus for 24 wide-bodied aircraft.

The deal, worth around $7 billion, was one of the largest in aviation history and unheard of for a new airline.

Etihad only started operating in March and now operates 10 services a week from Heathrow to its Abu Dhabi hub. In October the carrier will operate eight flights from Heathrow and daily from Gatwick.