Etihad’s Fleet Expands To 101 Aircraft

Etihad Airways’ fleet size expanded to 101 aircraft following the delivery of its 100th and 101st aircraft on Monday, June 30, the airline said in a statement.

The state carrier received a new Airbus A321-231 followed by an Airbus A320-200, making them the 100th and 101st aircraft respectively in Etihad’s fleet.

Etihad currently operates three Airbus A321 with seven more on order, a statement said.

The airline will take delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A380 aircraft in October and December of this year respectively. The A380 aircraft will also feature Etihad’s new luxury suites, which include a three-room cabin featuring a living room, bathroom and double bedroom.

The Abu Dhabi-based carrier placed its largest ever order, valued at $67 billion, for 199 aircraft and 294 engines last November.

Etihad, which began operations in 2003, now has more than 220 aircraft on firm order, including 71 Boeing 787s, 25 Boeing 777-X, 62 Airbus A350s and 10 Airbus A380s.

The airline is expanding opeartions globally and is growing its network by acquiring equity stakes in carriers such as airberlin, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia, Aer Lingus, Air Serbia and Jet Airways. Etihad recently annouced that it is moving ahead to acquire a stake in loss-making Italian carrier Alitalia.

The airline, which recorded a 48 per cent jump in 2013 net profits to $62 million, carried 11.5 million passengers last year. It flies to over 100 (existing or announced) destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas.