Etihad Airways is expanding its fleet by adding narrow-body aircraft from the secondary market to navigate global supply chain disruptions and rising aircraft demand, continuing its growth in the coming years.
Secondary Market Strategy
Etihad Airways CEO Antonoaldo Neves revealed in an interview about the global aviation sector in Abu Dhabi that the airline has begun sourcing narrow-body aircraft from the secondary market to meet its fleet needs.
By adding four aircraft to its Airbus A320 fleet, Etihad will also continue to utilise its existing 14 A320 aircraft in line with operational requirements.
Neves stated that two of the aircraft became available due to lease expirations, and the other two due to terminated contracts.
The advantage of sourcing aircraft from the secondary market is the ability to access planes from airlines that have gone bankrupt or are under Chapter 11 proceedings.
Global Demand and Supply Chain Issues
Post-COVID-19 high demand and supply chain disruptions have made fleet expansion challenging for airlines. According to IATA data:
By 2024, global commercial aircraft orders will reach 17,000, compared to an annual average of 13,000 between 2010-2019.
Supply chain delays are expected to cost airlines over $11 billion this year.
Neves emphasised that acquiring narrow-body aircraft is easier, while obtaining wide-body aircraft remains more complex.
Fleet Growth and Restructuring
As of 2025, Etihad has added 28 aircraft to its fleet and plans to add an average of 21 more every two weeks. The company aims to maintain a strong travel network and superior customer experience through a restructuring process that began three years ago.
In its operations in India, Etihad, which consumes a weekly quota of 50,000 seats for foreign air traffic rights, cannot expand in this market until new air traffic rights negotiations are completed.
Wide-Body Aircraft and Future Plans
Etihad’s fleet includes seven Airbus A380s, with plans to add two more by mid-2026.
A380s will not be sourced from the secondary market because seat manufacturers are not ready to meet Etihad’s specifications.
Earlier this year, the company placed an order for 28 aircraft including Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777X, with 777X deliveries expected in 2030-2031.
Etihad is also considering purchasing Airbus A350-1000 aircraft and is strategically reviewing all current aircraft options.
