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Ready for, ready for, ready for take off

March 9, 2011 4:01 by Eva Fernandes

Etihad billion dollar Engine Alliance deal

This week also saw the signing of a billion dollar agreement between Etihad Airways and Engine Alliance, (which is a venture between GE and Pratt & Whitney). The two companies signed a $1.5 billion deal for the purchase of GP7200 engines to power Etihad’s 10 Airbus A380 aircrafts. By signing its agreement with Engine Alliance, Etihad joins Emirates, Air France, Korean Air, Air Austral who currently operate or plan to operate their A380′s with the GP7200 engines. James Hogan, the chief executive of Etihad told The National “The GP7200 engines, provided by the Engine Alliance in this agreement, will offer significant fuel efficiencies and cost optimisation for Etihad’s first Airbus A380s when they enter our fleet from 2014.” Perhaps more importantly they’ll help the planes get off the runway, too.

Etihad ditches Dreamliners

Etihad has also ditched its plans to some of Boeing’s heavily delayed 787 Dreamliners. Instead the airline has opted to buy three 777-300ERs. Etihad, who had plan to buy four 787 Dreamliners, bought the three 777′s for $852.3 million before standard industry discounts. This move from the company isn’t totally unexpected, after all the Dreamliner is speculated to be released some time this year, three years after it was initially supposed to be launched. An Etihad spokeswoman told the National “Etihad has simply exercised its options. We are utilising option positions to take delivery of three B777s in 2013 and have adjusted our order for B787s accordingly.”

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Tags: aviation, emirates aviation, emirates etihad, emirates prices, emirates prices up, Etihad aviation, etihad dreamliners, etihad engine alliance, etihad growth, UAE aviation, UAE aviation Emirates