Etihad Airways has taken delivery of its second Airbus A380 in its striking new ‘Facets of Abu Dhabi’ livery, and has introduce the aircraft on the popular Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow route as of Friday,1 May.
Etihad Airways’ newest aircraft, registered A6-APB, was delivered to the airline’s Abu Dhabi hub on 25 April and will operate the EY19 / EY20 rotation. Two of the airline’s three daily flights to London will now be operated by the A380. Etihad Airways has a further eight A380s on order.
Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Adding our second A380 on the Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow will give our guests more opportunities to experience Etihad Airways’ revolutionary new cabins, including The Residence by Etihad and First Apartments. By August of 2015, all three daily flights on this flagship route will be operated by the A380, offering our guests unparalleled luxury and superior in-flight technology.
“In June, the third A380 will be introduced on one of our two daily services from Abu Dhabi to Sydney, offering a seamless, one-stop connection via Abu Dhabi to and from London on this innovative aircraft type.”
In 2014, Etihad Airways carried 533,615 guests to and from London Heathrow. The introduction of the A380 between Abu Dhabi and London will allow the airline to further boost its passenger numbers on the route.
Etihad Airways’ new A380 cabins offer an unprecedented level of luxury, space and privacy in the most highly customised commercial cabin interior ever.
The Residence by Etihad™ features a living room, separate ensuite shower room, double bedroom, and a dedicated Savoy trained Butler. Measuring 125 square feet in total, The Residence by Etihad™ is located on the forward upper deck of the A380 and is available for single or double occupancy.
The nine First Apartments in First Class are completely private living spaces featuring a reclining lounge chair and an ottoman, which opens up to become a separate 80.5 inch long fully-flat bed.
A total of 70 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 inches long, and an increase of 20 per cent in personal space.
The Lobby, a luxurious lounge located between the First Class and Business Class cabins, features two comfortable leather sofas and a staffed bar serving hot snacks and refreshments.
The main deck features 417 Economy Smart Seats, which provide enhanced comfort with a unique ‘fixed wing’ headrest on each seat, adjustable lumbar support, and a seat width of almost 19 inches.
Etihad Airways has introduced the latest Panasonic eX3 entertainment system on its A380 fleet, providing more than 750 hours of on-demand entertainment, 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.