Boeing on a roll as Etihad places order for 28 wide-body aircraft
May 16, 2025
After securing a deal with Qatar for up to 210 aircraft earlier this week, Boeing has closed the week with a 28-strong order from Etihad. Deliveries are expected from 2028 onwards.
The $14.5 billion order was unveiled on Thursday during US President Donald Trump’s visit to the UAE and is part of a broader $200 billion slate of US-UAE deals revealed during Trump’s tour of the Middle East.
Etihad has been steadily growing its fleet since 2023 in line with its strategy to double its fleet by 2030. The Abu Dhabi-based airline currently has a fleet of around 100 aircraft, including 57 Boeing airliners. Its latest order includes a mix of Boeing 787 and 777X aircraft, powered by GE engines and is supported by a services package. It also reflects the airline’s “ongoing approach to carefully manage its fleet and expand in line with demand and long-term network plans,” said Antonoaldo Neves, CEO, Etihad Airways.
The airline is working on a detailed plan to define its growth through 2035. The additional Boeing order, which brings Etihad’s total Boeing orders to 81 aircraft, will form part of the UAE carrier’s evolving roadmap, “ensuring the airline is well-positioned to deliver extraordinary customer experiences and to remain financially self-sustainable.”
Etihad also announced this week that it is expanding its presence in the US with the launch of non-stop flights to Charlotte, North Carolina starting May 2026. The airline is the first from the region to fly directly to Charlotte, its sixth destination in the US. The route will be operated four times a week on Etihad’s flagship Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
