Gulf carriers Emirates and Etihad Airways are expanding their widebody fleets with deals for Airbus and Boeing widebodies.
Emirates has concluded a deal for up to 13 more Boeing 777-300ERs - four firm orders and nine options - worth $3 billion at list prices. Deliveries will begin in 2006.
The deal takes Dubai-based Emirates' firm commitments for the General Electric GE90-115B-powered version of the 777 to 30 aircraft, after last year's Paris air show lease deals with GE Capital Aviation Services and International Lease Finance for 14 and 12 -300ERs respectively.
Etihad is poised to conclude a major fleet expansion deal with Airbus for widebodies this week. The Abu Dhabi carrier launched last year with leased A330-200s. The order could be for 25 aircraft.
Source: Flight International
