Etihad adds A320s to expand in region

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways said on Tuesday it had bought an Airbus A320 and leased two others, adding the first narrow-bodied aircraft to its fleet as it expands its regional flights.

The three A320s will be added to its fleet in September and October, while three more of the aircraft would be added in the first quarter of 2008, Etihad said in a statement, without giving further details.

Etihad bought one Airbus A320 aircraft from US-based KJ Aviation Services and leased two from Air Malta, a company spokesman said.

"Narrow-body aircraft are ideally suited to our growing Middle East and short-haul network, and it will allow us to redeploy the wide-body aircraft," Etihad Airways Chief Executive James Hogan said in the statement.

The first narrow-bodied aircraft will fly from Abu Dhabi to Tehran beginning September 1, 2007, Etihad said.

Etihad has a fleet of 27 wide-bodied aircraft.

It ordered 12 Airbus wide-bodied aircraft in a deal worth $2.4 billion in June.