Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Said to Seek $500 Million as Fleet Grows

Etihad Airways, the Abu Dhabi state-owned carrier, is seeking to raise as much as $500 million for fleet expansion, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

The fundraising may include financing from export credit agencies, operating leases and bank loans for five aeroplanes, the people said, asking not to be identified as talks are private. Several groups of local and international banks are bidding to provide the financing, the people said. An Etihad spokesman declined to comment.