Etihad CEO hints at future Boeing plane orders

Etihad Airways recently hinted at placing further orders with US plane maker Boeing for widebody aircraft. James Hogan, the Abu Dhabi airline’s president and CEO, said he was in “constructive discussions” with Boeing for future plans. He made the comments during a visit to Boeing’s Everett production facility, as the UAE flag carrier prepares to take delivery of more 777s and awaits the arrival of the 787 Dreamliner. Over the next 15 months, Etihad Airways will take delivery of two B777-200 freighters, five Boeing 777-300ER three-class aircraft, and two Boeing 777-300ER two-class aircraft. Hogan said: “Looking beyond the current 777 and Dreamliner orders, Etihad Airways has had constructive discussions with Boeing today about future plans for new widebody fleet types.” Hogan was leading a senior delegation of Etihad Airways and Airberlin executives on the one day visit. Etihad, which owns almost 30 per cent of Airberlin, Europe’s sixth largest airline, in March announced plans to strengthen their partnership by integrating their respective Boeing 787 Dreamliner programmes. Together, Etihad Airways (41) and Airberlin (15) have 56 Dreamliners on order. Hogan said: “It is exciting to see these aircraft take shape and we look forward to taking delivery of nine more 777s over the next 15 months.” Last December, Etihad announced it was taking its total order book for the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to 41, the first of which arrives in the last quarter of 2014. The order, valued at $9.3bn, will make Etihad the largest operator of the aircraft type in the world. The UAE flag carrier has options and purchase rights for an additional 25 aircraft. Airberlin has 15 Boeing 787s on order with options and purchase rights on a further 20 aircraft. Etihad Airways has already taken delivery of three Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft in 2012, including the airline’s first three-class aircraft type. From gulftoday