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FEATURE REGIONAL AIRLINES

was the launch customer for the A320neo, airline became the launch customer for the 25.9 million passengers in 2016, a growth
but will now look to convert its orders to the 777X with orders for 25 airplanes (777-9Xs of four percent over the corresponding
A321neo, though the choice of engine is yet and 777-8Xs) in November 2013 and has also year. The airline added 11 new jetliners
to be made. The airline has also completed placed orders for 71 787s, making it the single in December 2016 alone; 4 B777-300ER
a sale-and-leaseback agreement for six new largest customer for the type. It presently has equipped with the first-class suites, 3 A330-
Airbus A350 twin-aisle jetliners, with aircraft 10 787-9s in service. Etihad has also placed 300s, and 4 A320s. The carrier was also the
lessor BOC Aviation. All six airplanes are orders with Airbus for 40 A350-900s, ten launch customer for the A330-300 Regional
scheduled for delivery in 2017. Qatar Airways A350-1000s, one A330-200F, 26 A321neo’s and now has 10 of the type in service,
Group also finished the 2016 fiscal year and 10 A320neo’s. The airline will be one of following delivery of the first airplane in
with an operating profit of more than QAR 3 the first operators of the A350-1000. In 2008, August 2016. Saudia had placed orders for
billion, its best performance yet. In terms of Etihad contracted Airbus for the delivery of 20 A330-300 Regional jetliners in 2015, that
strategic partnerships, the airline raised its 20 A320s, 25 A350 XWBs and 10 Airbus A380 will be leased from leading Middle East
stake to 20 per cent in British Airways’ parent aircraft. Etihad’s present fleet comprises of aircraft lessor International Air Finance
company International Airlines Group (IAG). 115 passenger aircraft and 10 cargo airplanes. Corporation (IAFC). The new aircraft will
It will also acquire up to 10 per cent of LATAM Its deliveries in the future will comprise of enhance Saudia’s seat capacity in the
Airlines Group. 62 A350s, 26 A320neos, 2 A380s, 61 787s, domestic sector, where it carried 17 million
25 777s, and an example each of an A330F passengers in 2015. The A330-300 Regional
Etihad Airways and 777F for a total of 178 airplanes. Sluggish is optimised for missions up to 2,700 nm (5-
Barely into its teens in terms of years of market conditions however, could also mean hour flight) covering short to medium haul
operation, Etihad has grown at blazing speed that Etihad could now enter a ‘troubled teens’ routes and has a reduced operational weight
ever since its inception. In its first decade period as it seeks to finance some of its large of around 200 tons. The new type will deliver
of operation, Etihad added 86 airplanes and aircraft orders and downsize its workforce to an overall cost reduction of approximately
carried more than 11 million passengers over cut costs. 20 percent compared with today’s long-
97 routes and grew to an employee strength range A330-300s. An important aircraft for
of 16,500. The airline has placed mega orders Saudi Arabian Airlines Saudia on its international routes will be the
for widebody jetliners on multiple occasions The national carrier of Saudi Arabia, Saudi new Boeing 777-ER300s which commenced
and in 2013 placed orders for 199 aircraft and Arabian Airlines today has a fleet size of operations in November, 2016. Capable of
294 engines, in a deal valued at catalogue approximately 126 aircraft and plans to have flights of up to 16 hours non-stop, the 777-
prices to be worth US$67 billion dollars. The 200 airplanes in service by 2020. It carried 300ERs are in 290 seat configuration; First

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