Etihad Airways seeks USD 2 billion for fleet expansion

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates and the strategic partner of Serbia's flag carrier Air Serbia, announced in a release on Thursday its intention to attract USD 2 billion investments to finance the procurement of aircraft for its fleet in 2014.

Etihad Airways CEO James Hogan said that that airline continued to improve its relations with financial institutions around the globe which, in return, played a key role in the expansion of the global network and fleet of that company, the release reads.

- Financial institutions find Etihad Airways a strong partner that is financially stable and maintains safety on a high level - Hogan said after holding financial presentations in New York and London for over 400 leading international financiers.

Earlier this month Etihad Airways turned a record net profit of USD 62 million for 2013, up 48 percent from the year before, thus achieving positive business results for the third year in a row.

This airline generated a revenue of over USD 6 billion last year.

Over the past ten years, Etihad Airways has raised more than USD 8 billion from 68 financial institutions to finance the acquisition of aircraft and engines.

In addition to the four existing partners in which it holds a stake - Air Berlin, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia and Air Lingus - Etihad Airways also acquired a stake in Jet Airways, Air Serbia and the regional company Darwin Airlines based in Switzerland in 2013.

Etihad's fleet made up of 95 Airbus and Boeing aircraft will be expanded successively to include another 220 ordered airplanes: 71 Boeing 787, 25 Boeinga 777-X, 62 Airbus A350, and 10 Airbus A380 aircraft.