UPDATE 1-Etihad dangles orders for 50-100 planes

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By Tim Hepher

PARIS, March 26 (Reuters) - Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways plans to order between 50 and 100 jetliners this summer, an executive said on Wednesday, setting up what could be one of the year's big battles between jetmakers Airbus (EAD.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) and Boeing (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research).

The purchases could include a repeat order for the Airbus A380 superjumbo, the world's largest passenger jet, four of which are already due to join the Etihad fleet in 2013.

The airline, owned by the Abu Dhabi government, is seeking to expand its network in the Middle East and to nations including India to compete with regional giants Emirates Airlines [EMAIR.UL] and Qatar Airways.

Francis Ebner, director general for Etihad's operations in France, told a media briefing on the Gulf airline industry that the airline would order planes in all three main categories.

These are the very large A380, which seats 525 people, or the slightly smaller Boeing 747-8; the mid-sized Boeing 787 Dreamliner or the Airbus A350; and the single-aisle Airbus A320 or Boeing 737.

Aviation demand is predicted to dip in 2008 after a record 2007 but the Mideast Gulf has been a surprisingly steady source of demand for passenger jets alongside Asian low-cost carriers.

"We will order 50 planes this summer for delivery in 2013," Ebner said, adding afterwards that the total order could rise to 100 aircraft including all three categories. Etihad said last year it was evaluating the A350 against the Boeing 787. An order of 50 planes in this category would be worth around $10 billion.