Etihad Airways has just announced an Airbus aircraft order at the Dubai Airshow, and it’s an interesting one, as the airline will be adding a new aircraft type to its fleet.
Continue reading: Etihad Orders Airbus A330-900neo, More A350-1000s, Deliveries Start 2027
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Makes sense. Least these are actually available and will be delivered unlike another plane.
Just to refresh Tim's memory heh:
"The 787-9 has greater range but it is not needed for 350 operators, of which CX is one of the largest.
The 787-10 is larger and more cost-efficient than the 339 but overlaps with the 350.
It is very unlikely that many airlines will order both the 787 and an A330/350 combination."
Apparently that list gets bigger with Virgin and now Etihad, with Delta yet to place an order. Apparently, Gaurda is also in discussions to order some 787s as well! So that makes 4.
Off topic Lucky, but an interesting update for your Japan/China story?
I wouldn't say they are "taking delivery" of A321LR's considering that they already have been operating it since most part of this year.
Etihad started with an all airbus fleet, dominated by A330-200 and A330-300. So this is not new for them. Besides, the A330 is a time proven, flexible, reliable airplane. Quieter than the 787, comfortable, and excellent layout. Well-done Etihad.
as much as you want to turn everything into a pil23432ng match, the 787 and A350 do different things and the A350 in either of the latest versions does far more than the 787 in any version can do.
the 787-10 is the most economical widebody per passenger but yet the 339 keeps selling, proving that its attractiveness is Airbus' ability to deliver it fairly early and its lower sales price since it is a less technologically advanced aircraft. the 330NEO will easily top 500 sales which is not bad for an airplane for which Airbus spend $2 billion in development costs; In contrast, Boeing has spent 10X that amount on the 787
and DL will very likely order 787s and have both versions of the A350
There are 6 airlines that are both A330NEO and 787-8/9 customers, but Delta isn’t one of them. They are Virgin Atlantic, Uganda airlines, Saudia Group, Hainan airlines, Garuda Indonesia, and Etihad.
787-10 and A350 have coexisted with many airlines even if one of the fleets has yet to start deliveries. United, BA, Etihad, Korean Air, SIA, Emirates, and KLM come to mind.
""It is very unlikely that many airlines will order both the 787 and an A330/350 combination."
"My statements are as true as the day I wrote them in full."
So would you say you were wrong if/when the list of carriers that have ordered both the 787 as well as the 330N/350 grows?!
A mixed fleet of 787s as well as A330Ns/A350s can certainly work the same way a mixed fleet of the 767/777 and A330/340. Numerous airlines I can think of that have operated both types at the same time.
KLM - 767, A330
Air France - 767, 772, A330, 343
Singapore - A343, 772
Cathay Pacific - 772, A330
And the list goes on.
"There are 6 airlines that are both A330NEO and 787-8/9 customers, but Delta isn’t one of them."
"787-10 and A350 have coexisted with many airlines even if one of the fleets has yet to start deliveries. United, BA, Etihad, Korean Air, SIA, Emirates, and KLM come to mind."
Tell that to Tim! 😀
thank you, Justin.
Delta will almost certainly order the 787 if only because they politically cannot afford to operate an all-Airbus widebody fleet after the 767s are retired - within 10 years and probably less. and DL is likely to order the 787-10 as all or part of its order; the 787-10 is the most efficient TATL and S. America aircraft but it covers only a small part of TPAC routes
Politics is part of the reason several of those airlines operate Airbus and Boeing widebodies even though the 787 and A350 are not direct competitors on a number of fronts.
"if only because they politically cannot afford to operate an all-Airbus widebody fleet after the 767s are retired"
No one's making 30 year fleet projections on wide-body vs narrow-body source.
And if any idiot politician tried to make this an issue, Delta's obvious bipartite response would first be "screw you, our last large order was for 100 Boeings," followed by a million dollar donation to whomever that politician's primary challenger will be.
Delta knows it. Politicians know it. Which is why they don't (and won't) make an issue out of that.
except the 787-10 IS the most efficient TATL airplane per passenger. DL doesn't have to buy a 2nd class product in order to also have fleet diversity.
When you run a major US airline and decide that country of origin for airplanes doesn't matter, let us know.
I can assure you that DL will fly Boeing widebodies and narrowbodies even though, esp. for the narrowbodies, it can be argued that Airbus produces better and more capable products.
Great to see our debates and arguments being substantive without insults being hurled at each other! Politicians can learn a lot from how we conduct ourselves 😉
Garuda - nope
Saudia group - a stretch operated by completely different entities.
While Garuda doesn't have any 787s on order, discussions are ongoing for an order composing of 789s and more MAXs.
And fair play on the Saudia group; while part of the Saudia group, completely different airline and you won't see them in Saudia colours.
The orders from lessor Avalon are the ones likely to be delivered to Etihad first in 2027. Avolon ordered these aircraft years ago but lessors typically hold out placing some of their orders with airlines until the last minute (within 2 years of delivery) in order to get the best pricing for themselves. CEO of Etihad admitted they only bought/leased the A330s because of their earlier availability. Because of strong recent financial results, potentially in advance of an IPO, Etihad has just stepped up its growth plan for the next 5 years to a fleet of 200 aircraft by 2030 compared to the previous target of 170+ and 115 currently. These orders were probably arranged a while back and were just waiting for the Dubai Air Show this week.
Makes sense. Least these are actually available and will be delivered unlike another plane.
Just to refresh Tim's memory heh:
"The 787-9 has greater range but it is not needed for 350 operators, of which CX is one of the largest.
The 787-10 is larger and more cost-efficient than the 339 but overlaps with the 350.
It is very unlikely that many airlines will order both the 787 and an A330/350 combination."
Apparently that list gets bigger with Virgin and now Etihad, with Delta yet to place an order. Apparently, Gaurda is also in discussions to order some 787s as well! So that makes 4.
as much as you want to turn everything into a pil23432ng match, the 787 and A350 do different things and the A350 in either of the latest versions does far more than the 787 in any version can do.
the 787-10 is the most economical widebody per passenger but yet the 339 keeps selling, proving that its attractiveness is Airbus' ability to deliver it fairly early and its lower sales price since it is a less technologically advanced aircraft. the 330NEO will easily top 500 sales which is not bad for an airplane for which Airbus spend $2 billion in development costs; In contrast, Boeing has spent 10X that amount on the 787
and DL will very likely order 787s and have both versions of the A350
""It is very unlikely that many airlines will order both the 787 and an A330/350 combination."
"My statements are as true as the day I wrote them in full."
So would you say you were wrong if/when the list of carriers that have ordered both the 787 as well as the 330N/350 grows?!
A mixed fleet of 787s as well as A330Ns/A350s can certainly work the same way a mixed fleet of the 767/777 and A330/340. Numerous airlines I can think of that have operated both types at the same time.
KLM - 767, A330
Air France - 767, 772, A330, 343
Singapore - A343, 772
Cathay Pacific - 772, A330
And the list goes on.
There are 6 airlines that are both A330NEO and 787-8/9 customers, but Delta isn’t one of them. They are Virgin Atlantic, Uganda airlines, Saudia Group, Hainan airlines, Garuda Indonesia, and Etihad.
787-10 and A350 have coexisted with many airlines even if one of the fleets has yet to start deliveries. United, BA, Etihad, Korean Air, SIA, Emirates, and KLM come to mind.
"There are 6 airlines that are both A330NEO and 787-8/9 customers, but Delta isn’t one of them."
"787-10 and A350 have coexisted with many airlines even if one of the fleets has yet to start deliveries. United, BA, Etihad, Korean Air, SIA, Emirates, and KLM come to mind."
Tell that to Tim! 😀
thank you, Justin.
Delta will almost certainly order the 787 if only because they politically cannot afford to operate an all-Airbus widebody fleet after the 767s are retired - within 10 years and probably less. and DL is likely to order the 787-10 as all or part of its order; the 787-10 is the most efficient TATL and S. America aircraft but it covers only a small part of TPAC routes
Politics is part of the reason several of those airlines operate Airbus and Boeing widebodies even though the 787 and A350 are not direct competitors on a number of fronts.
"if only because they politically cannot afford to operate an all-Airbus widebody fleet after the 767s are retired"
No one's making 30 year fleet projections on wide-body vs narrow-body source.
And if any idiot politician tried to make this an issue, Delta's obvious bipartite response would first be "screw you, our last large order was for 100 Boeings," followed by a million dollar donation to whomever that politician's primary challenger will be.
Delta knows it. Politicians know it. Which is why they don't (and won't) make an issue out of that.
except the 787-10 IS the most efficient TATL airplane per passenger. DL doesn't have to buy a 2nd class product in order to also have fleet diversity.
When you run a major US airline and decide that country of origin for airplanes doesn't matter, let us know.
I can assure you that DL will fly Boeing widebodies and narrowbodies even though, esp. for the narrowbodies, it can be argued that Airbus produces better and more capable products.
Great to see our debates and arguments being substantive without insults being hurled at each other! Politicians can learn a lot from how we conduct ourselves 😉
While Garuda doesn't have any 787s on order, discussions are ongoing for an order composing of 789s and more MAXs.
And fair play on the Saudia group; while part of the Saudia group, completely different airline and you won't see them in Saudia colours.
Off topic Lucky, but an interesting update for your Japan/China story?
I wouldn't say they are "taking delivery" of A321LR's considering that they already have been operating it since most part of this year.
Etihad started with an all airbus fleet, dominated by A330-200 and A330-300. So this is not new for them. Besides, the A330 is a time proven, flexible, reliable airplane. Quieter than the 787, comfortable, and excellent layout. Well-done Etihad.
The orders from lessor Avalon are the ones likely to be delivered to Etihad first in 2027. Avolon ordered these aircraft years ago but lessors typically hold out placing some of their orders with airlines until the last minute (within 2 years of delivery) in order to get the best pricing for themselves. CEO of Etihad admitted they only bought/leased the A330s because of their earlier availability. Because of strong recent financial results, potentially in advance of an IPO, Etihad has just stepped up its growth plan for the next 5 years to a fleet of 200 aircraft by 2030 compared to the previous target of 170+ and 115 currently. These orders were probably arranged a while back and were just waiting for the Dubai Air Show this week.