Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - Etihad's interesting financing of a couple of A346 widebodies

Etihad has announced the financing details of a couple of A346 widebodies, once delivered last month and the other coming next month, Reuters reports.

Interesting news as one was financed through a multinational 3-bank consortium but the other through 'Al Hilal Bank, a new Islamic bank based in Abu Dhabi'.

Perhaps a case of one hand to the other hand financing from Abu Dhabi?

Full story: Etihad agrees $212 mln financing for 2 Airbus planes (http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSLP52687620081125) [Reuters]


I wonder if Emirates is getting the same kind of deals for finance, or whether the differing fortunes of Dubai and Abu Dhabi mean a differential pricing approach?

I think it's typical for deals in the Gulf to be done with a combo of "traditional" and Islamic lending. In both cases I bet the loans will be syndicated, so including an Islamic portion opens up the available syndication universe to include all of the Islamic banks -- important now since Western lending / participation ability is "constrained".