In ordering more 787s, Etihad joins Emirates in securing medium-term growth

Etihad Airways' order for ten additional Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners will see the carrier join Emirates in guaranteeing medium-term growth. While some of the growth may be organic, a concern is further delays - or all together performance shortfalls - for the Airbus A350-1000, which both Emirates and Etihad ordered. The A350-1000 sits between the 787-9 and the 777-300ER, the latter of which Emirates ordered an additional 50 of last month. While the A350-1000 is due for delivery from late 2017, delays are highly expected. Etihad CEO James Hogan all but confirmed this when commenting on the additional 787 purchase, "We saw an opportunity to add further certainty to our growth profile in the mid to late part of the decade."