Etihad adds used single-aisle jets amid global plane shortage
Etihad Airways PJSC is adding single-aisle planes from the secondary market to navigate a historic global aircraft backlog and persistent supply chain disruptions, Chief Executive Officer Antonoaldo Neves said.
The Abu-Dhabi flag carrier acquired four aircraft from the Airbus SE 320 family based on operational needs, although there were 14 available, Neves said in an interview in New Delhi.
He declined to name the airline that previously operated the planes, but said two were lease expiries and the remaining were lease terminations.
“On the narrow-body segment, for instance, you have many airlines going out of business or chapter 11” bankruptcy, he said. “So, there are planes available now on the secondary market.”
Global airlines are struggling to expand fleets due to high demand for aircraft like the A320 and supply chain disruptions still lingering from the pandemic.
The International Air Transport Association said Monday that the worldwide commercial aircraft backlog reached a record 17,000 units in 2024, up from an annual average of 13,000 between 2010 and 2019.
That backlog is more than a logistical headache — it’s a financial and strategic burden. A joint IATA-Oliver Wyman report estimates supply chain delays will cost airlines more than $11 billion this year.
Neves said while single-aisle aircraft are relatively easier to source, wide-body planes are a bit harder to get.
Etihad has added 28 aircraft to its fleet this year and plans to induct 21 more, averaging one new plane every other week. The airline is undergoing a restructuring that began three years ago, aimed at building a product supported by a robust network, Neves said.
Over the past two years, Etihad has expanded operations in India, exhausting its foreign flying rights quota of 50,000 seats per week. Neves said the airline cannot grow further in the South Asian country, until traffic rights are renegotiated.
Super jumbo aircrafts
Etihad currently operates a fleet of seven A380 aircraft and plans to add two more by mid-2026, Neves said.
The airline is not considering any A380 from the secondary market due to interior refurbishment challenges, as seat manufacturers are unwilling to meet Etihad’s specifications.
Earlier this year, Etihad placed an order for 28 aircraft, including Boeing Co. 787 Dreamliners and 777X jets. Neves said the 777X deliveries are expected between 2030 and 2031, and the airline is comfortable with the timeline.
The aircraft’s commercial debut has been delayed to early 2027, Bloomberg News reported earlier.
Etihad is also evaluating Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. “We are looking at all planes,” he said.
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Published on October 15, 2025
