Etihad Airways has ordered 10 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and two 777 Freighters in a deal valued at $2.8 billion, the airline and Boeing announced.
With the order, Etihad becomes the largest airline customer of the 787-9, the larger version of Boeing’s new twin engine, carbon composite airliner. The Abu Dhabi based carrier now has a total of 41 787s on order with options on 25 more. It expects to take delivery of the aircraft between 2014 and 2019.
Etihad said it would configure the 787-9s to carry up to 300 passengers and would use the aircraft on routes to Dublin, Frankfurt, Kuala Lampur, Beijing, Nagoya, Delhi and Istanbul.
“Our decision to expand our Dreamliner fleet is testimony to Etihad’s commitment to operating one of the youngest and most fuel efficient fleets in the skies,” Etihad CEO James Hogan said in a statement.
Boeing says the 787, which it claims is 20 per cent more fuel efficient than similar sized aircraft, has become the fastest selling twin aisle aircraft in aviation history, with more than 800 orders from 58 customers. The aircraft began commercial operations with launch customer All Nippon Airways in October.