UAE's Etihad to buy 12 Boeing aircrafts with USD2.8b 

(MENAFN) Etihad Airways' chief executive, James Hogan, said that in a move that would make the carrier the largest operator of Boeing Dreamliner, the UAE national airline would purchase 12 Boeing aircrafts for USD2.8 billion, reported The National.

Hogan added that the aircrafts would include 10 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, and 2 Boeing 777 Freighters for the company's Etihad Crystal Cargo operation, moreover, Etihad also had options and purchase rights on 25 more Dreamliners, meaning that the carrier would take delivery of 41 787s between late 2014 and 2019.

He also said that expanding the airline's Dreamliner fleet showed Etihad's commitment to operate one of the newest and most fuel efficient fleets in the skies.

It is worth noting that Etihad's order came after its rival Gulf operators, Emirates Airline and Qatar Airways made multi-billion dollar bookings during the recent Dubai Airshow.