Etihad Airways (EY, Abu Dhabi International) plans to place a large widebody order "in the double digits" as the airline predicts demand to keep growing. CEO Antonoaldo ​Neves says the carrier expects flights to have increased by 8% by mid-June 2026 compared to last year. The development comes as Etihad restores services after slashing flights in March at the start of the Iran war.

Etihad said in February that it intends to add 20 aircraft and up to 3,000 staff a year over the next five years as it continues its AED80 billion dirham (USD21.8 billion) expansion plan. In November 2025, it signed a firm order for six A330-900Ns directly from Airbus while also committing to lease nine more of the type from Avolon. It has also increased its orderbook for A350 family aircraft.