Etihad Airways has announced a significant expansion of its Airbus widebody fleet by placing a firm order for six A330-900s, becoming the latest A330neo customer. In addition, the airline has disclosed an order for seven additional A350-1000s (increasing its total for the type to 27) and three A350F (bringing the airline’s A350F commitment to 10 aircraft). The agreement was signed at the Dubai Airshow, where Etihad Airways also announced the commitment of nine A330-900s on lease from Avolon.
“These aircraft strengthen our operations across medium-haul, long-haul, and cargo. The A330neo brings the right combination of efficiency and flexibility for our regional and mid-range growth, while the A350-1000 continues to deliver exceptional performance on our long-haul network. The A350F freighter adds significant capability to our cargo division as global demand continues to expand. Our partnership with Airbus continues to play an important role in shaping our future fleet, and we are proud to be building one of the world’s most modern and efficient widebody operations.” said Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad Airways CEO.
“Etihad Airways’ continued investment in our latest-generation widebody aircraft is a testament to the strength of our partnership and the shared vision we have for the future of aviation in the UAE and beyond,” said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business. “The combination of the A350 Family and A330neo will deliver unmatched efficiency and flexibility to Etihad’s operations, supporting its future development.”
Flydubai becomes new Airbus customer: Flydubai has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for 150 A321neo aircraft making the airline a new Airbus customer. The agreement underscores the carrier’s confidence in Dubai’s growth plans. Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of flydubai, signed the MoU agreement with Christian Scherer, CEO Commercial Aircraft at Airbus, at the signing ceremony which was attended by Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, on the second day of the Dubai Airshow 2025. “We are pleased to announce a landmark agreement for 150 A321neo aircraft, representing another important milestone in flydubai’s journey. This new agreement is not only about adding aircraft. It supports the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33,” said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and CEO of flydubai. “This strategic addition diversifies our narrow-body fleet and strengthens our long-term expansion plans. This will enable flydubai to play a key role in the success of Dubai World Central’s expansion plans, an airport we aim to become the largest airport in the world. The A321neos will support the next phase of our network development and enable us to meet rising demand across our markets. We look forward to establishing a strong and enduring partnership between flydubai and Airbus.”
Air Europa signs MoU for up to 40 Airbus A350-900s: Spanish airline Air Europa has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for up to 40 A350-900 aircraft. The agreement forms the backbone of Air Europa’s long haul fleet replacement and was announced during the Dubai Airshow. The introduction of the A350 will accelerate the renewal of Air Europa’s existing competitor long haul fleet and boost profitable growth to key markets in Latin America thanks to the aircraft’s unrivalled performance and economics. Passengers will also experience exceptional best in class comfort. “This order is a strategic milestone in Air Europa’s fleet development, accelerating its profitable growth by renewal of the current widebody fleet,” said Juan Jose Hidalgo, President of Air Europa. “The A350-900 is a game-changer for key destinations in Latin America. It provides an exceptional cabin experience and the operational performance and economics needed to expand the airline’s network without compromise, delivering the highest standards in air travel.” “We are proud to welcome Air Europa into the Airbus A350 family. This order is a strong endorsement of the A350 as the benchmark widebody platform for efficiency and passenger comfort in the long-haul market,” said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business. “We are committed to supporting Air Europa’s ambitious growth strategy as they leverage the A350’s capabilities for their future long-haul operations.”
Ethiopian Airlines orders six additional A350-900s: Ethiopian Airlines has placed a firm order for six Airbus A350-900 aircraft, further strengthening its position as the largest A350 customer in Africa. This agreement was signed at the Dubai Airshow by Mesfin Tasew, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO and Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business . “We are delighted to expand our Airbus fleet size with this order and strengthen our partnership with the Airbus company. As the continent’s leading airline and the largest operator of the A350, this milestone order further supports our vision to grow sustainably while providing a world-class travel experience to our passengers and strengthening our position as the aviation leader in Africa.” said Mesfin Tasew. “We are proud to further deepen our partnership with Ethiopian Airlines, a long-standing Airbus customer and a benchmark for aviation excellence in Africa. The A350’s state-of-the-art technology, efficiency and versatility will bring even greater value to Ethiopian’s operations,” said Benoit de Saint-Exupéry.
Airbus to support French Sécurité Civile and Gendarmerie H145 fleet: Airbus Helicopters will now support the entire fleet of H145 family helicopters of the French Sécurité Civile and Gendarmerie Nationale, following a new contract signed with France’s Aeronautical Maintenance Directorate (DMAé). This latest agreement covers 46 H145 helicopters (40 for the Sécurité Civile and six for the Gendarmerie Nationale) for up to ten years and will be executed by Airbus Helicopters in a co-contracting partnership with Babcock. This new contract for the H145, combined with a previous support agreement for their fleet of EC145 helicopters signed in May 2024, also in a co-contracting partnership with Babcock, completes Airbus Helicopters’ support responsibility for all H145 family helicopters operated by these two key French public safety agencies. This unified support structure ensures maximum fleet availability and operational efficiency for their critical missions. “Ensuring the operational availability of our H145 fleet is critical for the public safety missions carried out by the Sécurité Civile and Gendarmerie Nationale,” said Captain Jean-Baptiste Fortin from the DMAé. “This comprehensive agreement provides the long-term visibility and industrial support necessary to guarantee their performance.” “Airbus Helicopters is proud to strengthen its partnership with the French government and to be working alongside Babcock on this essential programme,” said Romain Trapp, Executive Vice President of Customer Support & Services at Airbus Helicopters. “This contract demonstrates the trust the DMAé places in Airbus to support its critical missions. By managing the entire H145 fleet, Airbus Helicopters can provide a unified and more efficient support service.” Airbus Helicopters and Babcock will ensure that the Sécurité Civile and Gendarmerie Nationale H145 family helicopters are available for their critical missions serving the French population. The Securité Civile and Gendarmerie Nationale H145s are used for search and rescue, emergency medical services, fire fighting and law enforcement missions. The comprehensive contract covers a large range of support activities from training, technical support, supply of spare parts, logistics solutions (transport of spares and stock management), technical data management, software support and MRO activities.
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