The FINANCIAL — Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, today unveiled plans to fly its Boeing 787s to five more destinations during 2016.
With a phased delivery of five new 787s over a seven-month period, beginning May 2016, the 299-seat 787 Dreamliners will be deployed as replacements for existing aircraft on daily scheduled services to Dusseldorf, Perth, Shanghai, Istanbul and Johannesburg from the airline’s Abu Dhabi hub, according to Etihad Airways.
Etihad Airways currently operates five 787s, serving Brisbane, Washington, Singapore and Zurich from Abu Dhabi. With a further 66 Boeing 787s due to be delivered over the next few years, the Dreamliners will become Etihad Airways’ flagship long-haul aircraft.
James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “Since introducing our first 787 into commercial service in February, we have enjoyed excellent feedback from guests of our ground-breaking cabin interiors that have set a benchmark for high service levels in the region and across the world.
“Beginning May next year, Etihad Airways’ newly delivered 787 Dreamliners will replace existing aircraft on our Dusseldorf, Perth, Shanghai, Istanbul and Johannesburg routes, among our most popular markets, giving guests an opportunity to fly on our next-generation aircraft.
“Today’s travellers are increasingly looking for greater comfort, higher standards, more choice and better convenience as priorities in their decision-making and we, at Etihad Airways, are striving to meet their high expectations through innovations such as introducing new planes to the fleet and continuing to upgrade our routes.”
Etihad Airways’ newest 787-9 variant will include highly-acclaimed interiors featuring 28 Business Studios and 271 Economy Smart Seats, offering superior levels of comfort, entertainment and in-flight connectivity. On-board décor and lighting have been inspired by contemporary modern Arabian design, complementing the new ‘Facets of Abu Dhabi’ design identity introduced by the airline during its livery relaunch last year.
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