Etihad Airways says it has the option of switching out Boeing 787 options to carriers it has stakes in if needed in the future.
"We can swop positions and purchase rights options," says Etihad chief commercial officer Peter Baumgartner at an event to unveil the airline's first Boeing 787-9 at Boeing's facilities in Everett.
Baumgartner's remarks were in response to questions on Air Berlin's recent cancellation of all 15 orders for the 787-9, along with cancellation of 18 737s. Etihad has a 29% stake in Air Berlin.
Baumgartner says Air Berlin's decision was made by the carrier on its own. "The decision was not taken in any Etihad context," he says. "We have options and purchase rights to accelerate or let partner airlines to participate in our order book."
Etihad holds 12 options for the 787-10, which it has 30 firm orders for, Flightglobal's Ascend Fleets shows. The airline has orders for 41 787-9s.
The carrier holds stakes in several airlines around the world, including Aer Lingus, Air Berlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Jet Airways and Virgin Australia. It is also in the process of acquiring a stake in Alitalia and Swiss carrier Darwin Airline, now operating as Etihad Regional.
Of these airlines, only India's Jet Airways has orders for the 787. It has orders for 10 787-9s, and 10 options for the 787-8, Ascend Fleets shows.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
