Etihad Airways to acquire 24 Airbus aircraft, takes option on 12

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2004

FARNBOROUGH, England (AFP) — Etihad Airways of Abu Dhabi has signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire 24 Airbus aircraft, including four of the superjumbo A380 models, and has taken an option on 12 additional planes for a total of seven billion dollars, Airbus officials revealed.

In addition to the four A380s, the memorandum covers four A340-600s, four A340-600s and 12 A330-200s, bringing the value of firm intentions to an estimated 4.5 billion dollars, Airbus said in a statement Tuesday.

The A330-200 and A340-500 planes would be delivered in 2006 and the A340-600s and the A380s in 2007, according to Airbus.

Airbus chairman Noel Forgeard, addressing a press conference at the Farnborough Air Show here, did not provide details on the options sought by...