Etihad Airways has announced one of the largest ever aircraft orders.

The national airline of the United Arab Emirates, Etihad Airways, has placed an order for up to 205 aircraft with both Airbus and Boeing – one of the largest aircraft orders in commercial aviation history, worth US$43 billion (£21.4bn).

The order was announced at the UK’s Farnborough International Airshow and comprised 100 firm aircraft orders – 55 with Airbus worth $12bn and 45 with Boeing worth $9bn – along with 55 options and 50 purchase rights split between the two companies.

The deal will give the airline a total fleet of 150 aircraft, with the new aircraft being delivered between 2011 and 2020.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ Chief Executive, commented that the deal highlighted the rising prominence of the Middle East in aviation: “It [the deal] reflects the strength and pace of economic growth in the Emirate and the integral role Etihad will play in Abu Dhabi’s future. That future will see planned investments in infrastructure and projects within the Emirates likely to exceed $200bn during the next 10 years, an aggressive tourism push and enormous residential development.”

Award-winning Etihad Airways was established in 2003 and serves 45 destinations around the world. It recently reported a 41% rise in passenger figures compared with the first six months of 2007, and is on track to reach its target of six million passengers by the end of the year.

Also announced at the Farnborough Airshow was an order placed by FlyDubai, Dubai’s recently launched low-cost airline, with Boeing for 50 Next Generation 737-800s. The deal, worth US$3.74bn (around £1.9bn), will help FlyDubai achieve its mission to “bring some two billion regional inhabitants affordable, efficient and flexible travel options to and from Dubai,” explained the airline’s Chairman, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum.