Abu Dhabi’s Etihad lines up order for seven Airbus A350 cargo planes

DUBAI (Reuters) – Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways on Wednesday signed a letter of intent to order seven Airbus A350 freighter aircraft, European planemaker Airbus said at the Singapore Airshow.

The value of the potential deal was not disclosed.

The state-owned airline had been considering the Airbus freighter and the competing 777X cargo jet developed by Boeing.

Etihad Chief Executive Tony Douglas said the Airbus jets would play a key role in the airline’s cargo strategy.

He has previously said that the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner widebody passenger jets would become the backbone of its fleet.

Earlier on Wednesday Airbus said that Singapore Airlines had finalised a deal to order seven A350 freighters.

(Writing by Alexander Cornwell; Editing by David Goodman)