Etihad Airways and Boeing have announced a global partnership centred on the 787 Dreamliner and sustainable aviation practices. The partnership which sees the gulf carrier test environmentally friendly products and initiatives on board a special B787 ‘Greenliner’ aircraft, is said to enter service early next year.
The aircraft which sports a special green/blue livery will operate a special “eco-flight” between Abu Dhabi and Brussels during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, which runs from January 11 to January 18, 2020. Boeing states that the partnership between itself and Etihad in relation to the Greenliner aircraft is to serve as a testing bed assessing environmental sustainability initiatives.
The two groups said to have signed a comprehensive agreement through which the companies will share knowledge, experience and resources to continuously improve the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, aims to reduce aircraft carbon emissions, a major challenge across many industries today.
Say hello to our brand new 787 Greenliner!
In partnership with Boeing, this one-of-a-kind aircraft will be used to test technology, products, and initiatives designed to help reduce carbon emissions and build a future of sustainable air travel. pic.twitter.com/MCXgLgmAgw
— Etihad Airways (@EtihadAirways) November 18, 2019
Valued at around USD 215 million, the partnership between Etihad Airways and Boeing includes both a commercial and technical agreement encompassing a broad range of services including landing gear overhaul programme, high-value airframe components, and maintenance planning optimisation tools. With Etihad operating more Dreamliners than any other Middle Eastern carrier, Boeing’s aircraft supports an unparalleled fuel efficiency and range flexibility enabling network performance and optimisation.
The partnership is a perfect platform for encouraging sustainability in the aviation industry.
Stanley Deal, the Executive Vice President of the Boeing Company added that “the 787 Dreamliner and its revolutionary design have enabled carriers such as Etihad Airways to significantly reduce fuel use and emissions. It is the perfect platform for advancing our industry’s commitment to sustainable growth. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Etihad Airways and identifying more ways to improve efficiency across commercial aviation”.
Tony Douglas, CEO @EtihadAirways explains how his company is working on being responsible – from announcing ‘Greenliner’ with Boeing, on more sustainable aviation efforts to helping to fight neglected tropical diseases and #ReachTheLastMile financially & by raising awareness pic.twitter.com/3kW2uAXSFR
— Mina Al-Oraibi (@AlOraibi) November 19, 2019
With activities including training of pilots, cabin crew and maintenance technicians, this step by Boeing and Etihad always helps strengthen Abu Dhabi’s credentials as a global innovation hub, a key pillar of the Emirates’s 2030 economic and social vision, to further increase capabilities which support development of the aerospace sector in Abu Dhabi, and elsewhere in the UAE.
