Etihad weighs A350 and A330neo orders ahead of Dubai Airshow

(DUBAI) Etihad Airways is in advanced talks with Airbus over a fresh widebody order that could add more Airbus A350 and A330neo jets to the Abu Dhabi carrier’s long-haul fleet, with people familiar with the matter saying an announcement could come as early as the Dubai Airshow in November 2025.

The potential deal, described by multiple industry sources as active and focused, would align with Etihad’s plan to double in size by 2030 and push toward a fleet of 170 aircraft, up from about 105 in service as of late 2025. Both Etihad and Airbus have declined to comment publicly, but the timing and scope of the talks have stirred attention across the region’s aviation market, where fleet choices can shape route networks, cargo capacity, and long-term hiring across pilots, engineers, cabin crew, and ground operations.

Aircraft types under discussion

People following the talks say Airbus and Etihad have centered discussions on the A350 (including the larger A350-1000 and possibly the A350F freighter) as well as the A330neo, a mid-size twin-aisle jet that has seen a fresh wave of orders this year.

• The A350-1000 offers long range and competitive fuel burn per seat, suiting trunk routes to Europe, North America, and East Asia.
• The A330neo provides a slightly smaller, lighter widebody option for opening city pairs or adding frequency without committing the capacity of a larger jet.

While the exact number of aircraft under review remains private, the framework reflects Etihad’s need for long-haul flexibility while keeping operating costs in check.

Timing and the Dubai Airshow

The Dubai Airshow has long been a stage for Gulf carriers to signal growth. Industry sources told Reuters and Zawya that, if a deal is sealed soon, the announcement could coincide with the show — a common playbook to showcase fleet moves before a global audience of suppliers, financiers, and regulators.

An order for more A350 or A330neo jets would underline Etihad’s intent to scale beyond its pandemic-era reset and return to sustained expansion.

Recent delivery momentum

In July 2025, Etihad took five aircraft in what it called its busiest delivery month on record, including one Airbus A350-1000.

“July has been a remarkable month for Etihad Airways. Taking delivery of five aircraft is our most intensive delivery programme to date and showcases our ambitious growth trajectory,” — Chief Executive Antonoaldo Neves.

Those arrivals filled gaps on peak routes and prepared the ground for new destinations teased for 2026. The pace also signaled to manufacturers and lessors that Etihad intends to move quickly on frames it can induct without long modification delays.

The wider growth and investment plan

Neves has mapped a path to reach around 170 aircraft by 2030, and the company has earmarked up to $7 billion for investment through that period.

• About $1 billion is allocated to retrofit roughly 50 aircraft, expected to begin toward the end of 2025 after earlier supply chain constraints.
• Retrofitting covers cabin refreshes, new seats, and upgraded inflight systems to extract more value from existing assets.
• Deeper fleet expansion still requires fresh orders — hence the focus on A350 and A330neo.

The dual-type approach allows Etihad to balance mission needs: large, long-range frames for flagship routes and dense peaks, and right-sized widebodies for medium- to long-haul lines where demand grows in steps.

Current fleet and existing orders

Etihad’s fleet mix and commitments include:

• Six A350-1000s in regular service.
• Two A330-200s under wet lease.
• Orders for 14 more A350-1000s and 10 A350F freighters.
• A May 2025 Boeing order covering 28 widebodies (B787 and B777X variants).

This dual-supplier strategy gives Etihad insulation against delays at any single manufacturer and offers choice in seating layouts, cargo volume, and range.

Airbus production and supply-chain constraints

Airbus has seen strong demand for both the A350 and A330neo, but industrial pressure remains:

• Airbus aims to lift A350 output to about eight per month in 2025, up from six per month in 2024.
• Parts, engines, and other supplier constraints are still tight.
• The A330neo had around 75 orders in 2024 and continued momentum into 2025.

If Etihad adds to Airbus’s backlog, deliveries could come in the later 2020s, aligning with Etihad’s decade-long scaling plan and ongoing retrofit work.

Route and commercial implications

Strategic uses for each type:

• A330neo
  • Unlocks mid-size long-haul markets where daily service with a smaller widebody makes sense.
  • Useful for secondary cities and incremental frequency.
• A350-1000
  • Drives growth on heavy routes to London, New York, Sydney, and similar trunk markets.
  • Provides operational headroom for challenging return legs (e.g., winter winds).

Freight considerations:
– Existing A350F orders help pair passenger growth with cargo expansion, supporting trade through Abu Dhabi.
– Etihad’s cargo arm, strengthened during the pandemic, benefits from new freighters to stabilize yield even as belly capacity expands on passenger flights.

Comments from leadership and communication approach

Etihad and Airbus are not commenting on the talks, but Neves has emphasized measured communication about growth:

“We are not in the announcement business […] about 200 and 300 planes. Our business is to sell tickets. So every time we launch a new destination, we announce it,” — Antonoaldo Neves (Gulf News).

This indicates Etihad prefers to tie fleet moves to concrete routes rather than headline aircraft counts — a stance that helps staff, unions, and training schools plan around real timetables.

Regulatory and certification considerations

Widebody additions require oversight on airworthiness and operational approvals:

• Carriers coordinate with authorities on certifications, ETOPS approvals, and maintenance programs.
• The UAE regulator is the General Civil Aviation Authority, which provides public information and guidance: UAE General Civil Aviation Authority.
• Global routes are shaped by bilateral agreements and slot allocations, which affect how quickly new planes enter service.

Supply-chain and delivery sequencing

The supply chain remains a major factor:

• Seats, galleys, composite parts, and engines flow through tight channels.
• Raising A350 output from six to eight per month requires stable deliveries from dozens of suppliers.
• Airlines accept longer lead times to lock in favorable delivery positions and align rollouts with retrofits and training.

For Etihad, timely orders can secure production slots that match destination launches, retrofit timelines, and pilot training, reducing out-of-service days during peak seasons.

Passenger experience and network effects

Passengers feel the results of fleet moves through quieter cabins and better fuel efficiency.

• Newer planes burn less fuel per seat, benefiting fares and onboard service reinvestment.
• Increased long-haul lift supports tourism, education links, and medical travel to and from Abu Dhabi.
• More frequency often leads to adjustments by consulates, border agencies, and local infrastructure to handle passenger flows.

Analysts note a steady long-haul recovery through 2024–25, with premium cabins performing well — a market Etihad targets with A350-1000 premium suites and potentially competitive premium-economy offerings.

Operational commonality and cost benefits

Commonality benefits include:

• Streamlined training and maintenance when passenger A350 orders rise alongside A350F freighters.
• Fewer aircraft types reduce spares complexity and shorten learning curves for ground teams.
• The A330neo shares Airbus cockpit philosophies, easing pilot cross-qualification and scheduling.

Even small gains in commonality can generate significant savings over a decade of operations.

Market context and strategic balance

Etihad’s Boeing bookings in May 2025 (B787 and B777X) ensure coverage of certain mission profiles. A follow-on Airbus order would maintain balance, offering:

• Risk diversification for financiers.
• Product tailoring for commercial teams across different markets.
• A retrofit program complemented by new deliveries for consistent cabin quality.

What an announcement would mean

A well-timed order at the airshow could:

• Secure production queue positions.
• Signal ambitions to partners and the market.
• Spur hiring and training pipelines for type-rated pilots, engineers, and cabin crew.
• Prompt airports and handling firms to invest in gates, lounges, and equipment for larger frames and freighters.

Training and infrastructure changes take years, so fleet announcements are closely watched for their downstream labor and investment impacts.

Bottom line

By late 2025 the elements are in motion:

• Target: 170 aircraft by 2030
• Investment window: $7 billion
• Retrofit allocation: $1 billion
• Existing commitments include further A350-1000 jets, A350F freighters, and a Boeing widebody package.

Whether an Etihad–Airbus announcement lands during the Dubai Airshow or later, the underlying logic is the same: Etihad wants range, efficiency, and a flexible mix of widebodies to match demand. The Airbus A350 offers a modern flagship; the A330neo provides reach without excessive capacity risk. Combined, they form a long-haul strategy to carry Abu Dhabi’s growth through the rest of the decade.