Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways is set to present its first Airbus A380 at a formal ceremony in Toulouse on 18 January 2005, a notable moment for a carrier that launched its inaugural flight only in November 2003.
The airline currently serves 16 destinations and aims to reach roughly 70 by 2010, adding around 50 new routes over five years at a pace of at least one new destination per month since launch.
Fleet investment has moved quickly. In August 2004, Etihad ordered 24 Airbus aircraft, including four A380 superjumbos, four A340-600s, and four A340-500s, plus options on 12 additional planes, at a combined value of $7 billion. Last month, the carrier finalized a separate purchase of five Boeing 777-300 ER jets for $1.09 billion to serve routes across Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America.
The current fleet comprises two A330-200s, one A340-200, and a leased Boeing 767. Etihad aims to operate 10 wide-bodied aircraft before the end of 2005. Fully owned by the Abu Dhabi government, the carrier was capitalized at 500 million dirhams (about $136 million).
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in January 2005, in its own words.