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Saturday, September 22, 2012

Boeing 787 Dreamliner to join Etihad in 2014

The first Boeing 787 Dreamliner will join Etihad in the last quarter of 2014. Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, recently announced its plans to take delivery of more 777s and awaits the arrival of the 787 Dreamliner. Last December, Etihad Airways announced it was taking its total order book for the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to 41. The order, valued at 9.3 billion dollars, will make Etihad Airways the largest operator of the aircraft type in the world.

The airline owns almost 30 percent of airberlin, Europe's sixth largest airline. In March, the two carriers announced plans to strengthen their partnership by integrating their respective Boeing 787 Dreamliner programmes. Together, Etihad Airways (41) and airberlin (15) have 56 Dreamliners on order.

Etihad Airways' President and Chief Executive Officer, James Hogan said: "It is exciting to see these aircrafts take shape and we look forward to taking delivery of nine more 777s over the next 15 months. For both carriers, the Dreamliner's arrival will be a positive milestone for two strategically aligned partners, who are looking to successfully work with Boeing on our integrated fleet programme. Together, we are sharing infrastructure, streamlining our purchasing activity for engines, rotables, avionics and in-flight entertainment systems, and working on common onboard product specifications for our respective brands which will give passengers a consistent product experience."

Boeing Commercial Airplanes' President and Chief Executive, Ray Conner said: "Boeing is very proud of its partnership with Etihad Airways and the confidence they have in our 777 and 787 airplanes. We are encouraged by the high-level of performance and operational efficiencies that the 777 provides to Etihad Airways' current operations. And as one of Boeing's largest 787 Dreamliner customers, we look forward to when this market-leading airplane becomes part of Etihad Airways' award-winning passenger-service offerings."

Copyright Business Recorder, 2012

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