New Airbus cargo jet expected to go to Etihad first

Date: 6/11/2009

The Airbus A330 cargo jet flight tests are being prepared and rumours are being reported that Etihad Crystal Cargo will receive first delivery of the jet instead of Flyington.

Flyington Freightors, an Indian cargo airline start-up had originally been announced as buyer of the first 12 Airbus aircraft.

A Reuters report said it had heard reports that the Flyington deliveries were re-scheduled to summer 2010.

An Airbus spokesman would not confirm which firm would accept first delivery to Reuters on Wednesday, except to say they had agreed to push back Flyington's delivery date.

However, a Zawya Dow Jones report from Thursday claims Etihad will be the first to fly the new Airbus.

Etihad Airways is rumoured as the likely recipient of the first planes, though some industry analysts believe it would be a "reluctant" move due to the nature of first-issue aeroplanes and the fact that the company would not have had any input into the design.

The Reuters report claims Airbus has sold 67 A330-200F aeroplanes to nine firms.