ETIHAD AIRWAYS has reaffirmed its commitment to start Airbus A380 and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner services this December. During the first year of operations, the A380 will be deployed on the carrier’s three daily flights between Abu Dhabi and London, together with selected rotations to Sydney from June 1 next year. The airline has also revealed that between December and next June it will be introducing its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners on six routes comprising: Düsseldorf, Doha, Washington DC, Mumbai, Brisbane and Moscow. Coinciding with these launches Etihad Airways will debut its latest First, Business and Economy Class products on its A380s and 787-8s, including The Residence, the only three-room cabin in the sky (see Airliner World, July 2014).
“Our initial Airbus A380 and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flights have been on sale for almost four months and demand has exceeded our expectations, showing that the public share our passion for comfort, service, hospitality and style,” said James Hogan, President and CEO of Etihad Airways. “The A380 and 787-9 will play a fundamental role in the development of Etihad Airways’ future network.” The Abu Dhabi-based carrier has ten Superjumbos on firm order with the first of the type set to be introduced on the Abu Dhabi to London/Heathrow route, starting with flights EY11 and EY12, from December 27. It will switch its second daily rotations – EY17 and EY18 – to the A380 from March 1, 2015 followed by the third – EY19 and EY20 – from May 1. Meanwhile, Etihad Airways has commitments for 71 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, comprising 41 787-9s and 30 787-10s, with deliveries starting later this year. The type will be introduced on the carrier’s Düsseldorf and Doha routes from December and followed by Washington DC and Mumbai from January 1.
(Photo Eurospot)