Etihad Airways is engaging in early discussions with both Airbus and Boeing as it prepares to expand its fleet with widebody aircraft. The potential contenders are Airbus A350 and Boeing 777X, according to a report by Bloomberg, which cited sources familiar with the matter. These discussions are still in their infancy, and any deal is likely months away from being finalized.

The airline is eyeing significant growth in the coming years, and its choice between the A350 and 777X is crucial for its expansion plans. While discussions are ongoing, the closest major industry event, the Paris Air Show, set for June 16, might be a potential platform for an announcement. However, Etihad Airways has historically avoided making major purchases at this event since 2007, preferring the Dubai Airshow or making announcements independently of industry tradeshows.

In 2007, the Etihad Airways placed an order for four widebody aircraft: 4 Airbus A340-600, five A330-200, and three A330 freighters. A year later, at the Farnborough International Airshow, Etihad made a bold move by ordering 20 Airbus A320s, 25 A350s, and ten A380s, alongside 35 Boeing 787s and ten 777-300ERs. During the 2009 Paris Airshow, General Electric (GE) announced that Etihad had selected the GP7200 engines for its A380s, GE90 engines for the 777s, and GEnx engines for the 787s in a deal valued at $2.2 billion. In 2013, during the Dubai Airshow, Etihad became one of the launch customers for the Boeing 777X, ordering 17 777-9s, eight 777-8s, and 30 787-10s.

Etihad Airways Current Fleet

Etihad Airways’ current fleet consists of 102 aircraft, according to ch-aviation data, which includes:

• 14 A320ceos
• 1 A320neo (wet leased from Air Seychelles)
• 9 A321ceos
• 6 A321neos
• 5 A350-1000s
• 10 A380s (5 inactive)
• 5 777 freighters
• 9 777-300ERs
• 33 787-9s
• 10 787-10s

The airline has faced significant frustration over delivery delays from Airbus and Boeing. CEO Antonoaldo Neves recently voiced his concerns, pointing out that these delays have been a major challenge for the airline. Since 2020, Etihad has only taken delivery of seven aircraft, including one A350-1000 and six 787-10s, a much smaller number than expected.

Refurbishing Older Cabins Amidst Delays

In light of these delivery delays, Etihad is being forced to upgrade its existing aircraft to maintain quality service. Neves announced in September that the airline would be investing up to $7 billion to double in size by 2030. This investment includes cabin refurbishments for the airline’s fleet of 777-300ERs, which on average are 13.6 years old. Due to the limited availability of new aircraft in the market, Etihad plans to begin refurbishing the cabins of its 777s in 2026.

This ambitious expansion plan comes as Etihad works to maintain its competitive edge while grappling with industry-wide challenges related to aircraft deliveries. As the airline continues its talks with Airbus and Boeing, the decision between the A350 and the 777X will undoubtedly shape its future growth trajectory.