Abu Dhabi, Sept 8th, 2007 (WAM) -- Etihad Airways hassigned a contract with New York-based CIT Aerospace forthe lease of two new Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

The two A330-200s, the aircraft which forms the backboneof the Etihad fleet, are scheduled for delivery in Januaryand March 2009 and will replace two aircraft currently leasedby Etihad.

The deal, which means that Etihad is now CIT Aerospace'slargest customer in the Middle East, was signed by the airline'schief executive James Hogan and C. Jeffrey Knittel, presidentof CIT Transportation Finance.

Mr Hogan said: "Etihad continues to grow at an impressiverate and the introduction of the two new CIT-leased A330-200sinto the fleet will have a major impact because they can operateon both our long and short haul flights."Etihad Airways currently has 12 A330-200s in itsfleet and a further three will be added by the end of 2007.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline also placed an order with Airbusin June for 12 new aircraft, which included five A330 passengeraircraft.

CIT Aerospace owns or finances a fleet of more than 300 aircraft.

Approximately seven per cent of CIT's fleet is located in theMiddle East.

Mr Knittel said: "This transaction reflects increased demandfor passenger air travel in the Middle East and the continuedgrowth of Etihad Airways is a dynamic organisation and welook forward to building our relationship with the UAE's nationalairline in the years ahead."