Etihad to downsize to a mid-sized carrier

Etihad Airways has announced its intention to downsize to a mid-sized carrier, focusing on a widebody-fleet. The plan is part of the airline's post-COVID strategy and subsequent shake-up of the airline.

The idea is to streamline its fleet, making it "simpler and leaner", built around the B787 and B777. The plan, however, didn't specify the airline's intention with their narrowbody-fleet, which consists of 20 A320s and ten A321s. Etihad also has an outstanding order with Airbus for 26 A321neos.

Earlier the airline already said it would park its ten A380s until at least 2021, but it now looks like they will not return to the fleet. This will also probably be the case for their five A350-1000s, of which four have been delivered, but parked at Bordeaux.

Currently, their Boeing long-haul fleet consists of 19 B777-300ERs, six B777Fs, 30 B787-9s and nine B787-10s. They also have open orders for eight B777-8s and seventeen B777-9s

Photo by Anton Homma