Etihad and Ethiopian Airlines Expand Their Fleets with New Airbus Aircraft Orders
Etihad Airways has announced a significant expansion of its wide-body fleet with a firm order for six Airbus A330-900 aircraft, becoming the latest customer for the A330neo model. This strategic decision was revealed during the Dubai Airshow, where the airline also confirmed the addition of seven more A350-1000 units, bringing its total order for this model to 27 aircraft.
Furthermore, the airline formalized the acquisition of three A350F freighters, increasing its commitment to this aircraft type to a total of 10 units. As part of the same event, the company also announced the addition of nine more A330-900s through a lease agreement with Avolon.
Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, highlighted the impact of these acquisitions on the airline’s operational strategy:
“These aircraft strengthen our operations on medium and long-haul routes, as well as in the cargo segment. The A330neo offers the right combination of efficiency and flexibility for our regional and medium-haul growth, while the A350-1000 continues to deliver exceptional performance on our long-haul network. The A350F freighter adds significant capacity to our cargo division, in a context of growing global demand. Our partnership with Airbus remains key in shaping our future fleet, and we are proud to be building one of the world’s most modern and efficient wide-body operations.”
→ Etihad Airways Reaches New Milestone Operating 300 Daily Passenger Flights
Ethiopian Airlines Strengthens Its African Leadership with More A350-900s
During the same event in Dubai, Ethiopian Airlines signed a firm order for six Airbus A350-900s, further consolidating its position as the largest A350 operator on the African continent.
The agreement was signed by Mesfin Tasew, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, and Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, representing Airbus. Tasew expressed his enthusiasm for the fleet enhancement:
“We are delighted to expand our Airbus fleet with this order and to reinforce our partnership with the company. As the leading airline on the continent and the largest A350 operator, this historic order further supports our vision for sustainable growth, while we deliver a world-class travel experience to our passengers and solidify our position as aviation leaders in Africa.”
De Saint-Exupéry also praised the Ethiopian airline’s trajectory: “We are proud to further deepen our collaboration with Ethiopian Airlines, a long-standing Airbus customer and a benchmark for excellence in African aviation. The A350’s state-of-the-art technology, efficiency, and versatility will bring even more value to Ethiopian’s operations.”
Both Etihad Airways and Ethiopian Airlines have reaffirmed their commitment to modernizing and expanding their fleets through these strategic agreements with Airbus.
Related Topics
Helvetic Airways and Air Côte d’Ivoire to Expand Their Fleets with New Embraer Jets Orders
Embraer Reaches Historic Record with US$31.3 Billion Order Backlog in 3Q25
Embraer Opens Office in New Delhi, India
TrueNoord Places Firm Order for 20 Embraer E195-E2 and Secures Purchase Rights for Up to 30 Additional Jets
Un apasionado por la aviación, Fundador y CEO de Aviación al Día.