PARIS: Etihad inks $14bn engine orders

Following Etihad's mega aircraft order at last year's Farnborough airshow the Abu Dhabi-based carrier has now selected its powerplants for the deliveries that will commence in 2011 and run until 2020 in a deal that could be worth up to $14 billion.

The carrier has ordered 78 General Electic GEnx engines to power the 35 Boeing 787s it has on order.

It has selected Engine Alliance’s GP7200 to power its 10 Airbus A380s with a total of 45 engines ordered.

While IAE has been selected to provide its V2500 engines to power Etihad’s 20 new Airbus A320s with an order for 44 engines.

Bringing its firm engine orders to 239, which include 19 spares worth an estimated $7bn at list prices, including maintenance contracts.

The 239 engines include the 50 Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines for its 25 Airbus A350s and 22 GE90 engines for its 10 new Boeing 777-300ERs.

The carrier said that if all 105 options and purchase rights are converted this will bring its total engine order to 469.

“Despite the tough economic challenges currently facing the aviation industry, Etihad Airways continues to roll-out its long-term expansion plans in a measured, considered and controlled manner,” said Etihad boss James Hogan.

“The new aircraft, and engines that will power them, are scheduled for delivery between 2011 and 2020 which demonstrates the confidence we have in our plans for sustainable future growth. These plans will establish Etihad Airways as the world’s leading airline and our hub of Abu Dhabi as a leading global centre of commerce and tourism.

“We are operating in a very challenging environment at the moment but we have absolute confidence in our future, intrinsically linked to the exciting and on-going development of Abu Dhabi, as well our engine and aircraft manufacturers partners,” he said.