UAE's Etihad Buys Two Airbus A330 Freighters

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Abu Dhabi-owned carrier Etihad Airways said on Thursday it has ordered two more Airbus A330-200Fs in a deal worth $423 million at list prices.

"We are strongly committed to building our presence in the cargo sector with the platform of Abu Dhabi as our hub to connect global trade lanes," Etihad Airways chief James Hogan said in a statement.

Etihad, which is the national flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates, is the launch operator of the A330-200F after it took delivery of the first edition in 2010. The airliner can carry up to 70 tons of payload and offers a range of up to 4,000 nautical miles.

On Wednesday, Etihad announced signing a memorandum of understanding with the government of the Seychelles to acquire a 40 percent stake in Air Seychelles for $20 million.

The carrier will also provide a shareholder's loan of $25 million to meet working capital requirements and support network development, it said.

Etihad transported more than eight million passengers in 2011. It serves 82 passenger and cargo destinations with a fleet of 65 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and 100 aircraft on order.