As the Dubai Airshow nears, 
Etihad Airways may be looking to strike a new deal with Airbus. As reported by Reuters, the Abu Dhabi-based carrier is looking to purchase more Airbus A350s and possibly order the Airbus A330neo as well. While the A350s make sense, seeing as how the airline is already an A350 operator, the A330neos are a bigger surprise, as it currently has no Airbus A330s in its fleet while also flying 47 Boeing 787s.
Etihad Airways is one of the three major carriers in the Middle East (along with Emirates and Qatar Airways), but Etihad is significantly smaller as it restructured in the late 2010s and early 2010s following years of heavy losses. Now, however, the airline is planning to grow again, hoping to do so more profitably than before, and this rumored order may help Etihad achieve this goal.
New Airbus Aircraft Coming For Etihad?
Etihad Airways is reportedly in discussions with Airbus to order Airbus A350 and Airbus A330neo widebodies at the 
Dubai Airshow. Details are limited, although these planes would likely be used for expansion rather than for replacement, given the young age of Etihad’s fleet.
Etihad Airways currently flies the Airbus A320-200, Airbus A321-200, Airbus A321neo, Airbus A321LR, Airbus A350-1000, Airbus A380-800, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 787-9, and Boeing 787-10. While the carrier does have 11 outstanding orders for the A350-1000, it has not been clarified that this is the variant that the company is looking at. As such, Etihad could either be looking to top off its A350-1000 order or add the A350-900 to its fleet.
What’s more newsworthy is that Etihad is also looking at the Airbus A330neo. Although Etihad has previously operated both the A330-200 and A330-300, these planes have been retired for years. Additionally, Etihad’s largest fleet is the Boeing 787, of which there are 37 787-9s and 10 787-10s. Etihad has 24 remaining orders for the 787, so adding A330neos would appear to be an unusual choice given that the two aircraft are fairly comparable.
How Would These Planes Fit Into Etihad’s Network
If Etihad were to order the A350-900, it would likely complement the carrier’s Boeing 787-9 fleet by serving as an aircraft that can carry more passengers and payload across long distances. However, it’s more likely that it’ll be a top-off order for the A350-1000.
If Etihad were to order the A330neo, it would almost certainly order the Airbus A330-900. While the A330-900 is largely the same size as the Boeing 787-9, it’s optimized for shorter flights. Etihad’s network is centered around connecting Europe and Africa to Asia, which works in part because many cities in these three continents are within a 10-hour flight from Abu Dhabi. Not only is this well within the range of the Airbus A330neo, but Etihad operates several flights where the A330-900 would have a fuel burn advantage over the 787-9.
The A330-900 has a similar range as the Boeing 787-10, however, the 787-10 is a significantly larger aircraft than the Airbus, and Etihad could use the two aircraft on similar routes, with their exact assignments depending on overall demand. In addition, A330-900s are generally cheaper than new Boeing 787s and are available on shorter notice. These are important qualities for an airline with growth plans as ambitious as Etihad.
Etihad Looking To Grow Once Again
Planespotters.net shows that Etihad currently operates a fleet of 112 passenger aircraft. As a comparison, 
Qatar Airways flies 235 passenger aircraft, whereas 
Emirates flies 257 passenger planes. Etihad is by far the smallest of the three major Middle Eastern carriers, but its also profitable today. Etihad attempted to replicate the network and strategies of its peers, but it overexpanded and made a series of investments into struggling foreign airlines, leading to its restructuring.
While its turnaround in recent years has been one of the most impressive in modern aviation history, the airline isn’t content with staying a local boutique carrier. The carrier has announced plans to double its fleet and triple its passenger numbers by 2030. The carrier currently has 88 passenger aircraft on order (along with 10 Airbus A350Fs), and it’s clear that this rumored order will be to further this goal.
|
Aircraft |
On Order |
|---|---|
|
Airbus A321LR |
28 |
|
Airbus A350-1000 |
11 |
|
Boeing 777-8 |
8 |
|
Boeing 777-9 |
17 |
|
Boeing 787-9 |
4 |
|
Boeing 787-10 |
20 |
While the order may be modest in size, it will further signal that Etihad is no longer content doing its own thing. It wants to compete with Emirates and Qatar Airways again, but in a more sustainable fashion. The carrier has insisted that future growth must be profitable, and the airline is also looking to find markets with limited competition, such as its incoming route to Charlotte, which has no service from Emirates or Qatar.
