ABU DHABI- Etihad Airways (EY) is reportedly close to ordering 10 additional Boeing 787 Dreamliner widebody jets, with industry sources indicating an announcement could come at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026.
The Abu Dhabi-based UAE flag carrier already operates one of the largest Boeing 787 fleets in the Middle East. The reported order would deepen a fleet growth push that Etihad has pursued aggressively since 2023.
Etihad Reportedly Nears A New Dreamliner Deal
Reuters first reported on July 8 that Etihad Airways is nearing a deal for 10 Boeing 787 widebody jets. The announcement could arrive at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026, scheduled from July 20 to 24 in the United Kingdom.
The specific Boeing 787 variant has not been disclosed. Industry sources cautioned that negotiations remain ongoing and that a deal is not guaranteed until both parties sign the contracts. Both Boeing and Etihad have declined to comment while talks continue.
The report follows remarks last month from Etihad Chief Executive Officer Antonoaldo Neves, who told Reuters the airline was weighing a double-digit order for additional widebody aircraft but declined to name the manufacturer or model.
The reported purchase fits within Journey 2030, Etihad’s 7-year growth plan announced in November 2023.
The strategy targets doubling the fleet to more than 160 aircraft, expanding the network beyond 125 destinations, and carrying up to 38 million passengers a year, a figure revised upward from an original goal of 33 million.
The new rumor also builds on recent Boeing commitments. In May 2025, Etihad signed a $14.5 billion deal for 28 Boeing widebodies, a mix of 787s and 777Xs fitted with GE Aerospace engines, during US President Donald Trump’s visit to Abu Dhabi. Deliveries from that order are expected to begin in 2028.
A further factor may be aircraft availability. Reports indicate Etihad has been in talks to take over Boeing 787 delivery slots that Air India could defer into the 2030s.
Sources suggest the carrier is close to securing around half a dozen jets originally destined for the Indian airline, potentially arriving as early as 2029 or 2030.
Challenging Year That Still Points To Growth
The reported order follows a difficult first half of 2026 for Etihad and several Middle Eastern rivals. Regional conflicts earlier in the year pushed multiple carriers to reduce operations as fuel prices climbed and networks faced disruption.
Etihad has been restoring flights after cuts made in March, when the US-Israeli conflict with Iran drove fuel prices higher.
Airbus has since noted that Middle East airlines are recovering strongly under the region’s fragile ceasefire, with Gulf hubs returning toward normal traffic levels.
Etihad still operates a smaller fleet than Gulf rivals Emirates and Qatar Airways, and faces fresh competition from the newly launched Riyadh Air and a fast-growing Air India.
Boeing 787 Remains Central To Etihad’s Fleet
An order would not introduce a new type, since the Dreamliner already anchors the fleet. According to ch-aviation data, Etihad operates 47 Boeing 787 aircraft, made up of 37 Boeing 787-9s and 10 Boeing 787-10s.
The 787-9 fleet averages about 7.6 years of age, while the 787-10 fleet averages roughly seven years. Both sit below the airline’s fleet-wide average of about 9.7 years. Etihad has also locked in four more 787-9s and 19 additional 787-10s on its existing order book.
According to aeroLOPA, every Etihad 787-10 uses the same two-class layout, with 32 Business Class seats and 295 Economy Class seats.
The 787-9 fleet operates in 3 configurations: 32 Business and 271 Economy, 28 Business and 262 Economy, or a 3-cabin version with 8 First Class, 28 Business, and 190 Economy seats. The varied layouts let the airline match capacity to demand across different routes, Simple Flying flagged.
Where Etihad Operates Its Boeing 787 Fleet
According to Cirium scheduling data, Etihad has planned 312 one-way Boeing 787-10 departures from Abu Dhabi this July. Milan Malpensa (MXP) is the busiest destination with 42 flights, while Beijing Daxing (PKX), Hanoi (HAN), and Madrid (MAD) each receive daily service.
The larger 787-9 fleet is scheduled for 1,154 one-way departures from Abu Dhabi during the same period. Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Frankfurt (FRA), and Malé (MLE) each see twice daily flights.
Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Munich (MUC), Phuket (HKT), and Rome Fiumicino (FCO) also receive more than one daily rotation.
Awaiting Official Confirmation
Although sources expect an announcement at Farnborough, the Boeing 787 order has not been officially confirmed.
If finalized, the deal would add capacity Etihad needs to push its fleet and passenger targets through the rest of the decade, while handing Boeing another vote of confidence from a major Gulf carrier for its 787 program.
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