Etihad Airways Takes Delivery of First Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Etihad Airways has taken delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

The aircraft is the first of the 71 Dreamliners that the national airline of the United Arab Emirates has on order which includes 41 787-9s and 30 787-10s.

Etihad Airways will also be the first airline in the Middle East to operate the 787-9.

"We are confident that the additions of the 787 Dreamliner to our growing fleet will enable us to continue to add vital long-haul destinations from our Abu Dhabi hub," said Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer for Etihad Airways. "We will first use the aircraft on routes to cities such as Dusseldorf, Washington D.C., Mumbai, Brisbane and Moscow and will have over 70 within the fleet, once our order is complete."

The 787-9 can carry 280 passengers 8,300 nautical miles (15,372 kilometers).

The 787-10, launched in June 2013 and in development now, will fly 323 passengers up to 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 kilometers).