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Etihad, Boeing to launch more fuel-efficient plane

ABU DHABI, November 18, 2019

UAE's Etihad Airways has partnered with Boeing to launch the world's most fuel-efficient long haul airplane, dubbed the ‘Etihad Greenliner'.

The agreement was signed today at the 2019 Dubai International Air Show by Tony Douglas, the group chief executive of Etihad Aviation Group and Stanley Deal, executive vice president of The Boeing Company, and president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

The 'Greenliner' is a specially-themed 787 Dreamliner that will enter service early next year and operate regular flights in Etihad Airways' network, while periodically serving as a test bed for assessing environmental sustainability initiatives.

Sporting a unique green-blue livery, the ‘eco flight’ will depart on its first route from Abu Dhabi to Brussels during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in January 2020, the carrier said.

Beyond the environmental testing on the airplane, the two companies will build on the technical capabilities that Etihad Airways has developed while maintaining its own Dreamliner fleet and that of other operators. As part of the strategic partnership, the companies are discussing several areas where they can work together to improve operational efficiency.

Douglas said: “Innovation, productivity and sustainability are core values and objectives of Etihad Airways, and of Abu Dhabi, and the Boeing 787 is a key enabler of all three. Etihad and Boeing see great opportunities to share our combined knowledge of this incredible aircraft, and to work with other aviation stakeholders to explore opportunities for more innovation and less environmental impact.

Deal said: “The 787 Dreamliner and its revolutionary design have enabled carriers such as Etihad Airways to significantly reduce fuel use and emissions. It is the perfect platform for advancing our industry’s commitment to sustainable growth. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Etihad Airways and identifying more ways to improve efficiency across commercial aviation.”

The partnership will be underpinned by commercial and technical agreements valued at approximately Dh800 million ($217.7 million) encompassing a broad range of services including a landing gear overhaul program, high value airframe components, and maintenance planning optimisation tools.

Mohammad Al Bulooki, chief operating officer of Etihad Airways, said the Etihad-Boeing agreement demonstrated a level of collaboration rarely seen in the airline industry, to deliver value not only to these companies, but also to other 787 Dreamliner operators and the broader industry.

“These agreements complement our wider partnership and support future collaboration between Etihad and Boeing on supply chain management and both line and predictive maintenance, further reinforcing the airline’s commitment to reliability,” he said.

”They also strengthen Abu Dhabi’s credentials as a global innovation hub, a key pillar of the Emirate’s 2030 economic and social vision. As a next step, Etihad and Boeing will explore partnerships with universities in both Abu Dhabi and Seattle, home to Boeing’s largest assembly facilities, to further increase capabilities which support the development of the aerospace sector in Abu Dhabi, and elsewhere in the UAE," he said.

Etihad has the largest fleet of Dreamliners in the Middle East, and one of the largest in the world, with 30 787-9s and six of the larger 787-10s. - TradeArabia News Service




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