UAE-based airline Etihad Airways is continuing to grow, as they strike an agreement with Boeing for 28 more aircraft. Find out how the airline intend to double their growth by the year 2030.
As part of their strategy to double in size by 2030, Etihad have been steadily growing their fleet since 2023. Just last month, the airline welcomed its latest Airbus A350.
Now, a new agreement with Boeing sees the airline confirm an order for an additional 28 wide-body aircraft.
The agreement includes a combination of Boeing 787 and 777X aircraft powered by GE engines, designed for long-haul efficiency and passenger comfort. The 787, or ‘Dreamliner’, serves medium and long-haul routes, seating between 200 – 300 passengers. The 777X, on the other hand, is built for the long haul and high capacity – seating up to 426 passengers.
The aircraft are expected to join the fleet from 2028, in alignment with Etihad’s growth strategy.
“This commitment reflects our approach of carefully managing our fleet and expanding in line with demand and our long-term network plans,” says Chief Executive Officer of Etihad, Antonoaldo Neves. “Since 2023, we’ve made consistent additions to our fleet, and this latest step ensures we continue to meet our future requirements.”
Etihad’s expansion will serve not only passengers travelling with the airline, but will impact tourism as a whole, as connectivity grows both within the UAE and the wider world.
“This addition reflects Abu Dhabi’s ongoing investment in aviation as a key enabler of connectivity, tourism, and trade,” stated Neves. “Etihad’s continued growth supports broader economic opportunity in the UAE and beyond.”
The airline has documented significant growth in recent years. A report in August 2024 revealed that the airline carried 1.7 million guests in a single month, showing a passenger increase of 36% since the year prior.
Etihad is currently developing their expansion strategy through to 2035. The new additions from Boeing will play a key role in this evolving roadmap, supporting Etihad’s intentions to deliver exceptional customer experience and maintain long-term financial self-sustainability.
Where do you see the future of Etihad heading? We’d love to hear your thoughts below!
Definitely won’t be flying with etihad again after that experience. Seems like the sold their nice A330s and picked up some 25 year old planes to lower costs (though I’m not sure how as old planes need more servicing) such a disappointment after my frist experiences with them in 2018 &2019