Boeing, Etihad Announce Order For 56 Airplanes Valued At $25.2 Bln

(RTTNews) - Boeing (BA) and Etihad Airways Sunday announced an order for 56 widebody airplanes with options and purchase rights for 26 additional airplanes at the start of the 2013 Dubai Airshow. The order is valued at a total of $25.2 billion at list prices. The Abu Dhabi-based carrier's order includes 25 777X airplanes, comprising 17 777-9Xs and eight 777-8Xs, subject to program launch.

Etihad is the first airline to order the 777-8X and will be a launch customer of the airplane, which is expected to enter service around the end of the decade. The order includes options and purchase rights for 12 additional 777X airplanes.

In addition, the airline has ordered 30 787-10s, the newest and largest member of the 787 Dreamliner family.

When today's order is combined with the airline's previous order for 41 787-9s, Etihad becomes the world's largest airline customer for the Dreamliner family with a total of 71 787s on order. The order includes options and purchase rights for an additional 12 787-10s.

Etihad's order also includes one additional 777 Freighter for its cargo fleet, with options for two additional 777 Freighters.