Avolon says it has agreed to “lease 13 Airbus aircraft from its orderbook to Etihad Airways (‘Etihad’).” The transaction, which was announced at the Dubai Airshow, includes nine A330neos and four A320neo family aircraft.
Etihad also placed “a direct order with Airbus for six additional A330neos, complementing the nine aircraft leased from Avolon and bringing its total A330neo fleet to 15 aircraft.”
Avolon says the new aircraft from its orderbook are “due for delivery in 2027 and 2028 and will be a key driver to reshape Etihad’s short-haul and medium-haul network and provide significant capacity growth to its Abu Dhabi hub. Etihad’s operating fleet stood at 115 aircraft as of 17 November, with a network of over 100 destinations worldwide.”
According to Avolon, it was “a launch customer for the A330neo programme in 2014 and has 87 A330neos in its owned and committed fleet. The A330neo is designed to fly up to 8,100 nautical miles / 15,000 kilometers non-stop and reduces fuel burn, CO2 emissions and operating cost by 25% compared to previous generation aircraft.”
Andy Cronin, CEO of Avolon, commented: “Etihad’s selection of the A330neo is a strong endorsement for the programme and reflects the high level of demand from airlines for widebody capacity. The scale of our orderbook, bolstered by our order for 75 A321neos and 15 A330neos in July, has enabled us to ensure Etihad has the capacity required for its expansion plans.”
Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, commented: “Avolon has been a valued partner in supporting the evolution of our fleet, and these additional A330neo and A320neo family aircraft give us the flexibility and efficiency we need for the next phase of our growth.”