Middle Eastern carrier Etihad Airways is parting out two Boeing 777-200LR widebodies, which appear to be the first 777s of a current production model to be retired.
UK parts specialist AJW Group has acquired one of the twinjets for disassembly. The 2007-vintage 777 (registered A6-LRC), powered by GE Aviation GE90-110B engines, arrived at Cotswold airport in the UK on 12 January, aircraft part-out specialist Air Salvage confirms to FlightGlobal.
Flight Fleets Analyzer lists the jet's MSN 36302, and shows that Abu Dhabi-based Etihad has in storage a further four 777-200LRs, all built in 2007-8 and one of which (MSN 36300) has also been earmarked for teardown.
Flight Fleets Analyzer indicates that the two 777-200LRs are the first among the twinjet family's in-production models – which also include the 777-300ER and 777 Freighter – to be retired.
Both the jets were originally delivered to Air India and acquired by Etihad in 2014.
AJW chief investment officer Ian Malin states that its acquisition of an Etihad 777-200LR is part of a strategy to position the UK company as a "go-to source for 777 material for the next decade".
The company says that a total 976 777s of the 200LR, Freighter or -300ER models were in service in September 2018.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
