Qatar Airways brings the A380 to Australia via Sydney

Source: Qatar Airways. Qatar Airways' A380 aircraft makes its Australian 

debut in Sydney.

Sydney has become Qatar Airways’ first destination in Australia to be served by the A380 aircraft, just six months after the super jumbo craft was introduced to the carrier’s global network.

Following the route’s inauguration with the Boeing 777-300 on 1 March 2016, Qatar Airways has seen a steady growth in demand for its service on this route. The A380 aircraft increases Qatar Airways’ current daily capacity by 44% to meet growing travel and trade demand. The 517-seater offers twin decks in a tri-class configuration of eight seats in First Class, 48 seats in Business Class and 461 in Economy Class.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive HE Akbar Al Baker said: “From the moment we inaugurated service to Sydney earlier this year, we have been welcomed with open arms. Customers flying to and from Sydney appreciate our global route network and our efficient flight schedules, which save them hours of time on the average itinerary. We are pleased to respond in kind, with the introduction of the A380 service to Sydney, offering 517 seats per flight.

“Qatar Airways brings travellers from Australia to more destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa than any other airline serving Australia today. Australia is one of the main hubs of the business world in Asia Pacific, with many passengers flying worldwide for business and leisure. What better way to serve travellers from this key destination than to introduce our iconic A380 to the country, starting with the nation’s biggest hub, Sydney.”

“We’re thrilled that Qatar Airways has upgauged to an A380 within six months of the airline’s launch in Sydney, which is testament to their early success and strong loads,” Sydney Airport Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kerrie Mather said.

The A380 aircraft will feature a First Class Cabin with ultra-wide seats, which automatically recline into a flat bed, two-passenger table extension dining, sleeper suits, flight slippers and amenities from Giorgio Armani. Passengers travelling in Qatar Airways’ Business Class can also enjoy private aisle access with the 1-2-1 seat configuration and a suite of connectivity options including on-board Wi-Fi. First and Business Class passengers also have access to an on-board lounge located on the upper deck of the super-jumbo.

Economy Class passengers also benefit with the added spaciousness of the A380, with higher ceilings on the main deck, a wider seat configuration and design to offer more leg room plus contoured headrests.

When transiting through Qatar Airways’ hub, Hamad International Airport in Doha, passengers travelling from Sydney can enjoy a comfortable and efficient transit. The airport has more than 40,000 sq m of retail space and restaurants including more than 70 retail and 30 food and beverage outlets, as well as a 25m swimming pool, gym, hotel and spa.

Interested?

Daily flight schedule:

DOH to SYD on QR908 

Departs 9:40pm, arrives 7:35pm the next day

SYD to DOH on QR909 

Departs 10:25pm, arrives 5:05am the next day

Etihad Airways adds Melbourne as an A380 destination

Etihad Airways has begun a new era of luxury travel on the Melbourne-Abu Dhabi route with the inclusion of Melbourne as one of Etihad Airways’ expanding network of A380 destinations. The flagship superjumbo will operate one of the airline’s double daily flights between Melbourne and Abu Dhabi. It will replace one of the three-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft currently deployed on the route.

• Brings The Residence and next-generation cabins to the route
• A Butler, Inflight Chef, Flying Nanny and Food and Beverage Managers offer innovative hospitality services inflight

Etihad Airways’ double daily service from Melbourne provides travellers from Victoria access to more than 900 weekly connections in 50 markets across the Gulf region, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. The Abu Dhabi-Melbourne A380 flight – EY460 – departs Abu Dhabi Airport at 10.15pm and arrives at Melbourne Airport at 5.45pm the next evening. The return Melbourne-Abu Dhabi flight – EY461 – departs Melbourne at 10.10pm.

Etihad Airways Senior Vice President of Marketing, Shane O’Hare, said: “With Melbourne joining our A380 network, Australia is the only country in our global network with daily A380 services to two cities – Melbourne and Sydney.

“Deploying our latest technology aircraft and class-leading product and service to Australia recognises its importance to our business and the strong demand from Australian travellers for premium travel experiences. From the product and service innovations in every cabin to our inspired approach to hospitality, the Etihad Airways A380 offers touches of luxury to every guest and sets the benchmark for inflight comfort, entertainment, connectivity and service."

The A380 will increase the total number of two-way seats on the Melbourne-Abu Dhabi route by 26%, to more than 11,500 seats per week. O’Hare said this would ease the capacity constraints on the Melbourne-Abu Dhabi, particularly for business and premium leisure travel.

“Our Abu Dhabi to Melbourne services generate very high seat load factors year-round. The A380, with 70 seats in business class, enables us to better meet the demand we have for our premium cabins and will boost our market share of this important segment,” he said.

Lyell Strambi, CEO Melbourne Airport, said: “Our partnership with Etihad continues to go from strength to strength since the airline’s arrival to Melbourne Airport in 2009. Last year we were thrilled by the introduction of a second daily service between Melbourne and Abu Dhabi and a new Premium Lounge opened at Melbourne Airport last month. Now, capacity has been increased again with the upgauge to an A380, replacing one of the airline’s daily 777 services.

“Entrenched in Melbourne life, particularly in our sporting culture, Etihad’s name looms large over our city’s second biggest stadium and the airline is the principal partner of the Melbourne City Football Club.”

“The Melbourne to Abu Dhabi route is an important connector for Victorians to Europe with this market already experiencing considerable growth since Etihad’s second daily service commenced last August. The arrival of Etihad’s A380 is a great show of commitment to Melbourne and Victoria by this important airline partner and plays an important part in meeting our expected growth in passenger numbers.”

Etihad Airways’ A380 carries 496 passengers in a four-class configuration: The Residence, First Apartments, Business Studios and Economy Smart Seats. It offers an unprecedented level of luxury, space and privacy in the most highly customised cabin interior in commercial aviation.

The Residence is the world’s first three-room private suite on a commercial aircraft, unique to Etihad Airways. Measuring 125 sq ft, it is located on the forward upper deck of the A380 and is available for single or double occupancy. Features include a living room, separate ensuite shower room and a double bedroom. It has a large 32” LCD monitor in the living room and a separate 24” version in the bedroom.

Its exclusive hospitality offering includes a personal Butler, trained at the world-renowned Savoy Butler Academy in London and dedicated to meeting the needs of discerning guests. An onboard Chef complements the Butler service, offering a bespoke, made-to-order dining experience.

There are nine First Apartments in First Class. These private living spaces feature a reclining lounge chair and an ottoman, upholstered in Poltrona Frau leather. The ottoman opens up to become a separate 80.5” long fully flat bed. In addition, each First Apartment has a 24” LCD TV monitor, a chilled mini bar and personal vanity unit. A fully equipped shower room is available for the exclusive use of First Apartment guests.

Seventy Business Studios are located on the upper deck of the A380, all offering direct aisle access, a fully flat bed of up to 80.5” long, and an increase of 20% in personal space. Upholstered in Poltrona Frau leather, the Business Studio is equipped with an in-seat massage and a pneumatic cushion control system.

The Lobby, a luxurious lounge located between the First Class and Business Class cabins, features two comfortable leather sofas and a staffed bar serving a selection of snacks and refreshments.

The main deck features 415 Economy Smart Seats, which provide enhanced comfort with a unique ‘fixed wing’ headrest on each seat, adjustable lumbar support, a seat width of approximately 19”, and an 11.1” personal TV monitor.

Guests in all cabins enjoy the latest Panasonic eX3 entertainment system with more than 750 hours of on-demand entertainment, live TV news and sport channels, improved gaming, and high definition screens across all cabins. The A380 has full mobile and Wi-Fi service, with USB and power points at every seat.

The airline’s world-renowned hospitality offering includes innovative services such as Food and Beverage Managers, handpicked from the world’s top hotels and restaurants, to guide guests in Business Class through the ala carte and dine-anytime options and provide recommendations on the ideal beverage to accompany their meal choice.

The commencement of A380 services to Melbourne complements the airline’s recently-opened Premium Lounge at Melbourne Airport. The 800m² space, with the ambience of a sophisticated restaurant and bar, is the airline’s largest airport lounge outside its Abu Dhabi home base. It also features a separate private lounge for the exclusive use of guests travelling in The Residence.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline has strong ties to the city of Melbourne and the state of Victoria through partnerships with Etihad Stadium, Melbourne City Football Club, Sport Australia Hall of Fame, Melbourne Recital Centre and the Islamic Museum of Australia.

Within Australia and to New Zealand, Etihad Airways codeshares on Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand flights from Melbourne to Adelaide, Auckland, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Christchurch, Coffs Harbour, Darwin, Gold Coast, Hamilton Island, Hobart, Kalgoorlie, Launceston, Mildura, Newcastle, Perth, Queenstown, Sunshine Coast, Sydney, and Wellington.

Interested?

Flights to and from Melbourne can be booked with a travel agent, Etihad Airways Contact Centre or at etihad.com. A round trip fare for The Residence between Melbourne and Abu Dhabi is A$70,900 plus applicable taxes, and between Melbourne and London A$111,200 plus applicable taxes.

Etihad releases VR film starring Nicole Kidman

Source: Etihad website. Kidman in the video.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has released a 360^o virtual reality (VR) film starring Academy Award-winning actress Nicole Kidman. This marks the first time that a Hollywood actor has ever starred in a fully immersive virtual reality movie.

The five-minute feature, titled Reimagine, immerses viewers in an experiential journey following Kidman through one of its new Airbus A380s flying between New York and Abu Dhabi. The airline has used cutting-edge technology and multidisciplinary mediums in the feature to bring to life its acclaimed guest experience and hospitality story by engaging the consumer in various sensory interactions onboard the virtual flight. Each scene in the film takes on a theme intended to stimulate the senses of light, sound, motion, and conversation.

Kidman, who is also Etihad Airways’ brand ambassador, said: “The film is a culmination of Etihad’s vision to tell the airline’s story in an extremely innovative way and a commitment to engaging with the public as has never been attempted by an airline before. It was a great challenge but one which has definitely paid off and it was great to be part of such an exciting project.”

Throughout the experience, the viewer meets and engages with a number of characters including the actress herself, her film director, an opera singer and even an Emirati guest with a falcon in First Class. The journey also provides personal interactions with the Savoy-trained Butler in The Residence, the airline’s luxurious private three room cabin, the in-flight Chef in First Class, the Food and Beverage Manager in Business Class, and the Flying Nanny, trained by the Norland College in the UK.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Executive Officer, said: “We want to share Etihad’s story in a completely new way, using technology to make our consumers a part of the narrative and to experience an Etihad Airways A380 flight first-hand, from anywhere.

“The film demonstrates how, as an innovative brand, we continue to break down the barriers of convention and lead the way in intelligent communication and best practice not just within the aviation industry, but across the fields of marketing, communication and technology.”

The adventure takes the viewer through the twin-decked aircraft and covers its luxurious interiors including Economy Class, Business Class, and First Class, before concluding with a focus on Kidman enjoying The Residence.

Shane O’Hare, Etihad Airways’ Senior Vice President Marketing, said: “In December 2014 we completely reimagined the travel experience with the launch of our new A380 fleet, setting a new standard in innovative design, service and technology. This was followed in 2015 by a tremendously successful adverting campaign starring Nicole Kidman.

“This immersive VR film is a massive step-change in the way we present the Etihad Airways brand and product to the consumer using highly innovative new mediums. Based on the success of our recent campaign with Nicole, the decision to take this partnership to the next level was an obvious one.”

The film, which took more than six months to produce, was filmed exclusively in Abu Dhabi. An Etihad Airways A380 was used for three days and fully customised prior to filming; overhead lockers, seats and other sections of the aircraft’s interior were removed to allow for the installation of Red Dragon cameras, which were used to perfectly capture the actress’ movement through the aircraft. Hundreds of individual lights were required to ensure smooth and uninterrupted shots.

Etihad Airways collaborated with the Barbarian Group, a subsidiary of Cheil Worldwide, and the creative digital production company MediaMonks to produce the film. The feature was directed by husband-and-wife directing duo Anthony Atanasio and Valerie Martinez. The film used pioneering filming techniques to ensure a seamless production with no warping or stitches, achieving unrivalled VR results.

Ola Björling, MediaMonks’ Global Director of VR, said: “As the most multidisciplinary medium there is, virtual reality relies more heavily on craft and execution than anything that has gone before it. We believe the display of artistry in every facet of this production is setting a new benchmark for live-action VR.”

Interested?

Watch Reimagine. An updated version in stereoscopic sound will be released on 17 June. To guarantee the full experience, download the Oculus VR app and view the film using a VR headset, such as Oculus Rift or Google Cardboard.

Tags: Etihad, aviation,marketing, VR, virtual, reality, interactive, video, celebrity, A380,Airbus,travel

Etihad announces A380 services between Abu Dhabi and Mumbai

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, will operate its Airbus A380 aircraft between Abu Dhabi and Mumbai from 1 May 2016. Other A380 include Sydney and, from June 2016, Melbourne.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline’s 496-seat A380 has 50% more seats than the Boeing B777-300ER it replaces, offering more options for tourism growth into India, US and Abu Dhabi. The aircraft features the only three-room suite in commercial aviation – The Residence by Etihad – as well as nine First Apartments, 70 Business Studios, and 415 Economy Smart Seats.

In 2014, nearly one million guests who travelled on Etihad Airways’ India flights began their journey from outside the country, representing almost 70% of total passengers who flew to and from India with the Abu Dhabi-based airline. The aircraft will operate daily on flight EY204 from Abu Dhabi to Mumbai, and EY203 from Mumbai to Abu Dhabi, both of which carry the 9W code of Jet Airways, Etihad Airways’ strategic partner. 

The flights connect seamlessly with Etihad Airways’ A380-operated services to New York, allowing guests to experience the double-decker aircraft throughout their journey. Guests on board Etihad Airways’ A380 service will also have access to popular connecting destinations over Abu Dhabi, including Bahrain, Doha or Jeddah in the Gulf region.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Etihad Airways A380 has set a new benchmark for luxury and innovation and we are delighted to announce that this world-class service will soon be available to guests flying to and from Mumbai.

Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Honourable Chief Minister of Maharashtra, India, welcomed the news, saying: “This announcement by Etihad Airways ‎is yet another sign of international confidence in the powerhouse economy of Maharashtra. I look forward to the growth in tourism and business that this service can bring to our state."

Interested?

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post about Etihad's new flights to Melbourne, Australia

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post on Etihad's boutique hotel flight experience

Etihad to add more flights between Abu Dhabi and Melbourne

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, will start daily A380 services between Abu Dhabi and Melbourne on 1 June 2016. The flagship superjumbo will operate flights EY460/461, one of the airline’s twice-daily Abu Dhabi-Melbourne services. It will replace one of the three-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft currently deployed on the route. It will also bring to Melbourne The Residence by Etihad, the airline’s private three-room suite in the sky, as well as ground-breaking product and service innovations in all cabins.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “From June next year, guests on our Abu Dhabi-Melbourne A380 flights will discover what travellers the world over are talking about – the superior level of luxury, comfort, service, and inflight technology that is redefining luxury air travel and transforming the flying experience. What’s more, the A380 service from Melbourne will connect seamlessly in Abu Dhabi to the A380 to London, offering our London-bound guests the convenience and class-leading comfort of an all-A380 service all the way.”

The new A380 will increase the total number of two-way seats on the Melbourne-Abu Dhabi route by 26%, to more than 11,500 seats per week.

Hogan added: “Melbourne is an important point on our global network, and our Abu Dhabi to Melbourne services continue to generate very high seat load factors on a year round basis. After just three months of operations, demand for our second daily service is already exceeding our expectations.

“Deploying the 496-seat A380 to Melbourne will enable us to accelerate our growth in the Victorian market by providing additional capacity, particularly in business class, where demand for seats continually outstrips supply.”

Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events, The Honourable John Eren, MP, said: “Etihad’s decision is good news for Victoria’s visitor economy and further proof we’re headed in the right direction. It means more visitors from all over the world will see for themselves everything we offer.

“Victoria has a positive relationship with Etihad Airways and, through our partnership marketing efforts in the key markets of UK and Europe, more visitors can experience Melbourne and regional Victoria's award-winning tourism attractions and nature-based experiences."

Within Australia and to New Zealand, Etihad Airways codeshares on Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand flights from Melbourne to Adelaide, Auckland, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Christchurch, Coffs Harbour, Darwin, Gold Coast, Hamilton Island, Hobart, Kalgoorlie, Launceston, Mildura, Newcastle, Perth, Queenstown, Sunshine Coast, Sydney, and Wellington.

Etihad Airways commenced services to Melbourne on 29 March 2009. It added a second daily service to the route on 1 August 2015. It is the only airline offering double daily non-stop services between Melbourne and the UAE.

The airline has strong ties to Melbourne and the state of Victoria through partnerships with Etihad Stadium, Melbourne City Football Club, Sport Australia Hall of Fame, Melbourne Recital Centre and the Islamic Museum of Australia.

The daily flight schedule between Abu Dhabi and Melbourne, effective 1 June 2016:

Flight no.	Origin	Dest	Dep	Arrive	Aircraft	Freq
EY460	Abu Dhabi	Melbourne	21:45	17:20+1	A380	Daily
EY461	Melbourne	Abu Dhabi	22:40	06:45+1	A380	Daily
EY462	Abu Dhabi	Melbourne	10:30	06:05+1	B777	Daily
EY463	Melbourne	Abu Dhabi	15:00	23:05	B777	Daily

Note: All departures and arrivals are listed in local time. 

Interested?

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post on Etihad's boutique hotel flight experience

Emirates adds Airbus A380 to Perth route

Emirates will be adding its Airbus A380 planes to the Perth, Australia route for the first time, commencing 1 May 2015. The airline has announced that it will up-gauge one of its three daily services between Dubai and Perth to its flagship aircraft, demonstrating the growth of Perth as a global destination. 

The change from a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft will see an increase in capacity of 136 seats per flight and 1,904 seats per week, reinforcing Emirates’ commitment to business and leisure passengers visiting the capital city of Western Australia.
Barry Brown, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations - East said the deployment of a fifth Emirates A380 service to the Australia in association with Qantas demonstrates the priority that Emirates places on travel to and from Australia.

“Emirates looks forward to being the first airline to bring the state-of-the-art A380 to Perth, offering residents the chance to experience this revolutionary aircraft and the best service in the sky first-hand, including spacious seating and generous luggage allowances in Economy Class, Wi-Fi throughout, 2,000 channels on ice, our award-winning inflight entertainment system, access to the world’s only on-board shower spas for first class passengers and the on-board lounge where first class and business class passengers can socialise at 40,000 feet,” said Brown. 

"For business and leisure travellers, the Dubai-Perth route is a popular choice and our new Emirates A380 service will be instrumental in helping the airline meet this growing passenger demand as well as deliver substantial economic benefits through travel connections and inbound seats.”

Together with Qantas, a total of seven daily A380 services will operate from Dubai to Australia from May 2015, with onward connections across the country via Qantas’ domestic network.

The Emirates A380 is set in a three-class configuration, with 401 seats in Economy Class on the main deck, 76 fully flat-bed, mini-pods in Business Class and 14 First Class Private Suites on the upper deck.
Emirates passengers will be able to fly the A380 to Perth via Dubai from over 35 European cities including 12 which Emirates also serves with the A380. Emirates’ Perth A380 service will operate daily as EK420 departing Dubai at 0255 and arriving at Perth International Airport at 1735 the same day. The return flight, EK421, will depart Perth at 2210 and arrives in Dubai the following day at 0525, a flying time of 11 hours 15 minutes.

The airline recently introduced a daily A380 service to Brisbane and Melbourne, a double daily A380 service to Sydney and a daily Adelaide service.

Emirates is today the world’s largest operator of the A380 aircraft, with 56 in the fleet and 84 on order. Emirates’ A380 programme has seen 12 new double-decker aircraft join the fleet and launch to ten new A380 destinations in the past 12 months, including to Kuwait. Manila and Tehran have also experienced the flagship Emirates aircraft when the A380 touched down on their tarmac for a one-off showcase in 2014.

Etihad redesigns new aircraft for boutique hotel experience in the air

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has completely re-imagined what plane travel will look like in first, business and economy classes onboard the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft to be delivered later this year.

Five years in the making, the airline's design vision is to bring the individuality and exclusivity of a luxury boutique hotel experience to the sky in a way that embraced Arabian Modernism, an aesthetic that combines the traditions of the region with contemporary design.


First Apartments

The First Apartment on the airline’s A380 fleet will offer a complete living space with a reclining lounge chair and an ottoman which converts to become a separate 80.5 inch long fully-flat bed. Each First Apartment has a total area of 39 square feet, 74% more space than Etihad Airways’ existing First Class suite. 

The First Suite on the Etihad Airways B787 offers guests an enhanced suite with chilled mini-bar, complete privacy and centre seats which can be joined to create a double bed.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “The final product is far superior to anything available in the market today and more akin to the offerings of the world’s top five-star hotels, as guests onboard our A380 and B787 will soon discover."

Nine First Apartments will be located in the upper deck of Etihad Airways’ A380s, six of which have ‘connecting doors’ that allow them to create apartments for guests travelling together. Configured along a single aisle, a first for the industry, Etihad Airways’ First Apartments include a 30.3 inch reclining lounge chair and separate full length ottoman which opens into an 80.5 inch long and 26 inch wide fully flat bed. 

The First Apartment also includes a chilled mini-bar, personal wardrobe, and a separate vanity unit with lit make-up mirrors and stocked with luxury branded amenities, as well as a shower room. 

The Etihad Airways B787 will feature eight First Suites in a 1-2-1 configuration. The B787 First Suite boasts a 26 inch wide Poltrona Frau seat that converts to a comfortable 80.5-inch long fully-flat bed.

Like the First Apartments on the A380, the First Suites on the B787 will also offer a chilled mini-bar and Poltrona Frau leather upholstery. 

First Class Chefs will provide a five-star restaurant-style service in the sky, with guests able to request dishes prepared to their personal tastes and preferences.
 
Click here and here to view video of the new first class cabins. 
Business Studio

The airline will debut its new Business Studio onboard its Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, offering a standard of luxury associated with the industry’s first class travel.
 
A total of 70 Business Studios will be located on the upper deck of the A380, while the B787 will have 28 Business Studios, all offering aisle access and a fully flat bed of up to 80.5 inches long.
 
“We’re confident this new product will meet the diverse needs and highest expectations of today’s business traveller who will experience the Business Studio onboard our new A380 and B787,” said Baumgartner.

The Business Studios, which are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, giving direct aisle access to all passengers, are also the airline’s first dovetail (forward and aft) layout, allowing optimal use of cabin space. The suite has a 22 inch wide seat and separate ottoman, which together create a fully-flat bed of up to 80.5 inches long.

The centre Business Studios, while ideal for those travelling together, also offer full privacy for passengers traveling alone with full-height screens between the suites. Generous storage is also available inside the Business Studio, including room underneath the ottoman for carry-on items and shoes, as well as a large top-loading cupboard for water bottles, head-sets, literature and other items. Each Studio also features an ample side-furniture surface convenient for resting laptops, tablets and books. A number of different lighting options provide flexibility, including a side lamp, a reading light, and mood lighting.
 
The A380 will have Etihad Airways’ full mobile and Wi-Fly connectivity, while the B787 is equipped with Wi-Fly.
 
The Lobby for First and Business

Source: Etihad. The Lobby.

On the A380, First and Business Class guests will be able to relax in The Lobby, a serviced lounge and bar area located between the First and Business cabins.
With semi-circular leather sofas, a marquetry table and a large TV screen, The Lobby is designed for relaxing and socialising.

The Lobby TV has a HDMI connection so it can be used for sharing content or it can also be set to the airline’s Live TV channels for sporting and other events.
 
Click here and here to view video of the new Business cabins. 
Economy Smart Seat

In the economy class the airline will debut its new Economy Smart Seat, which is customised with a ‘fixed wing’ headrest which offers greater comfort and relaxation to guests. Upholstered in locally-sourced camel leather, the fixed wing headrest is designed to provide a firm surface for guests to rest their heads, as well as additional privacy between seats.
 
Baumgartner said: “Etihad Airways has always understood the importance of providing a travel experience that cannot be matched by others, and we have spent the past five years creating an Economy Class product that will be favoured by millions around the world.”
 
Etihad Airways is introducing Panasonic's most advanced eX3 in-flight entertainment system across both fleets, providing more than 750 hours of on-demand entertainment, improved gaming and high definition screens across all cabins.

The system has touchscreen handsets that offer a second screen for passengers so they can view additional content while watching a movie. Noise cancelling headsets are provided across all cabins.
 
Across the entire fleet, Etihad Airways will continue to offer a choice of three main courses in economy class, as well as a café service with hot chocolate and cappuccino.

Click here and here to view video of the new economy class cabins.

Etihad shares initial destinations for Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner craft

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has announced the first destinations for its first Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. 

Source: Etihad. The Boeing 787-9.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline’s first A380 will fly to London's Heathrow from December 2014, while a second A380 will operate on the same route from Q1 2015. By the end of 2015, Etihad Airways will have five of the same aircraft in operation, with plans to also introduce A380 operations to both Sydney and New York's JFK.

The first Etihad Airways B787-9 will enter commercial service in December 2014, with a second aircraft entering service in January 2015. As with the A380, by the end of 2015, Etihad Airways will have five of this type of aircraft in operation. The first B787s will initially be deployed on Washington DC, Düsseldorf and Mumbai, with further route announcements to follow.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “The A380 will be used to provide additional seats on existing routes where there is a need for increased capacity, and in particular, high demand for First and Business Class travel.”

Etihad Airways has a total of 10 A380s on firm order. Four A380s will arrive in 2015, three in 2016 and two in 2017.

Each aircraft is designed to carry 498 guests in four living spaces on the aircraft. This includes two VIP guests in The Residence by Etihad, nine guests in the innovative First Class Apartments, 70 guests in the new Business Class Studios, and 417 guests in Economy Class.
 
Baumgartner added: “We are the fastest growing airline in commercial aviation, and by unveiling our plans for this magnificent aircraft and setting new benchmarks in onboard product, service, hospitality and style, we have redefined what flying is all about.”

Etihad Airways also has major plans for the B787 which enters the fleet in Q4 2014.

In December the mostly composite aircraft will be deployed first on routes between Abu Dhabi and Düsseldorf, and services to Washington DC and Mumbai will commence in January 2015. Services to other cities will be confirmed in 2015 as more B787s enter the fleet.

The airline has a total of 71 B787s scheduled for delivery between the end of 2014 and 2023, including 41 B787-9s and 30 B787-10s, making it the largest operator of the aircraft type in the world.

Two B787s are scheduled for delivery in Q4 2014 with three due to arrive in 2015, three in 2016 and nine in 2017. All five initial B787 deliveries will have three living spaces aboard the aircraft, configured to carry 235 guests.

There are eight First Suites in First Class, 28 Business Studios in Business Class and 199 Economy Smart Seats in Economy Class.
 
“Over the coming years this next-generation aircraft will be used by Etihad Airways to launch flights to new destinations, add capacity in existing markets and progressively replace existing, less-efficient aircraft,” said Baumgartner. 

Some of the initial Etihad Airways A380 and B787 flights may be booked online at etihad.com, through the Etihad Airways contact centre, or via travel agents.