Etihad Airways takes delivery of its 6th Airbus A350

Abu Dhabi: UAE's national carrier Etihad Airways announced Monday it has welcomed the sixth Airbus A350 to its growing fleet.

The aircraft arrived in Abu Dhabi this weekend following a successful delivery flight from Toulouse, France, the carrier said.

This summer, Etihad will begin operating the A350 to Atlanta, its newest and sixth gateway into North America and one of 16 new routes Etihad is launching this year.

The Airbus A350 is a long-range, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner known for its fuel efficiency, largely due to its airframe constructed with over 50 per cent composite materials.

The A350 family includes variants like the A350-900 and A350-1000, accommodating around 300-400 passengers, and competes with Boeing's 777 and 787. 

While the A350 has generally been successful, deliveries have faced headwinds, particularly due to ongoing global supply chain disruptions. These issues, including shortages of engines and other critical components, have affected Airbus's overall delivery targets. Airbus had to adjust its 2024 delivery forecast due to these constraints.

Recent reports indicate that supply chain challenges are expected to limit A350 production and even delay deliveries of the A350 freighter variant until 2027.

In 2025, global passenger traffic is forecast to reach 9.9 billion with a 4.8 per cent year-over-year growth rate. While passenger demand remains strong, the pace of expansion is expected to slow as markets shift from recovery-driven surges to structural, long-term growth patterns, according to a recent Airports Council International (ACI) World report.