Etihad Airways is further expanding its fleet, confirming an order for 28 wide-body Boeing aircraft. The $14.5 billion order was made during U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the UAE, where he announced $200 billion in new investment deals with the nation.
A statement by the White House confirmed that Boeing and GE Aerospace secured a $14.5 billion commitment from Etihad Airways to invest in 28 American-made Boeing 787 and 777X aircraft powered by GE engines and supported by a services package.
“With the inclusion of the next-generation 777X in its fleet plan, the investment deepens the longstanding commercial aviation partnership between the UAE and the United States, fueling American manufacturing, driving exports,” the White House said.
Aircraft to join Etihad fleet starting from 2028
Etihad Airways said the Boeing aircraft are expected to join the fleet from 2028 onwards and will support its existing plans for growth in connectivity, operational efficiency and guest experience.
Since 2023, the airline has steadily grown its fleet as part of a long-term strategy to double in size by 2030. This deal with Boeing and GE Aerospace reflects Etihad Airways’ ongoing approach to aligning its fleet with evolving network and operational needs.
“This commitment reflects our approach of carefully managing our fleet and expanding in line with demand and our long-term network plans. Since 2023, we’ve made consistent additions to our fleet, and this latest step ensures we continue to meet our future requirements,” stated Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways.
Etihad Airways is currently finalizing a detailed plan that will shape the airline’s strategy through to 2035. The additional Boeing aircraft will form part of that evolving roadmap, ensuring Etihad Airways is well-positioned to deliver extraordinary customer experiences and to remain financially self-sustainable.
“This addition reflects Abu Dhabi’s ongoing investment in aviation as a key enabler of connectivity, tourism, and trade. Etihad’s continued growth supports broader economic opportunity in the UAE and beyond,” said Neves.
Read: Qatar Airways places largest Dreamliner order in history—Boeing shares climb
Boeing secures historic order in Gulf tour
Neves said last month that Etihad plans to add 20 to 22 new planes this year, in line with its aims to expand its fleet to more than 170 planes by 2030 and boost Abu Dhabi’s economic diversification strategy. He said that 10 of the new aircraft this year would be Airbus A321LRs, which the carrier launched and will start operating in August. The remainder include six Airbus A350s and four Boeing 787s.
During Trump’s Gulf tour, Boeing landed its biggest deal for widebody airplanes when Qatar Airways placed an order for 160 jetliners in addition to options to buy 50 more worth $96 billion, according to the White House.
The $96 billion deal sets new records as the largest wide-body order for Boeing, including the largest order for 787 Dreamliners and Qatar Airways’ largest-ever order.
Following Etihad Airways’ announcement, Boeing shares were up 0.74 percent, and GE Aerospace shares rose 2.75 percent.
