Etihad Airways Finalizes $1bn Deal

ABU DHABI, 20 December 2004 — New UAE airline Etihad Airways said yesterday it has finalized a $1 billion deal to buy five Boeing passenger planes for a total of $1.09 billion. The first of the Boeing 777-300 ER planes is to be delivered in October 2005, two more in November and the last two in December, the airline said. The new Boeings will serve new routes in Asia, Africa, Europe and North America. Launched in November 2003, Etihad already flies to Amman, Bangkok, Beirut, Colombo, Damascus and London.