Etihad Airways today announced all 14 weekly flights on the popular Abu Dhabi – Sydney route will be operated with its flagship A380 aircraft, effective October 29.
The current daily A380 Sydney flights will be joined by a second daily superjumbo service, upgraded from a 328-seat Boeing 777-300ER. The announcement comes as Etihad Airways marks the 10th anniversary of flying to Sydney, its first Australian destination.
Featuring the carrier’s revolutionary The Residence – the world’s first three-room suite on a commercial airliner – the additional deployment of the 496-seat double decker aircraft means one of Australia’s largest cities will join London and New York as an all-A380 operation.
Business and leisure travellers to and from Abu Dhabi, the airline’s operational hub, will enjoy increased capacity, and the airline will meet the growing demand from the UAE and connecting cities across the Gulf region, the Middle East and Europe.
The Sydney – London Heathrow route, via Abu Dhabi, will also offer guests the consistency, convenience and comfort of a seamless all A380 service in both directions. All three daily London Heathrow flights are operated with an A380. Beginning June 1, the second daily New York service will be upgraded to the superjumbo.
Introduced on the Sydney route two years ago, the A380 accommodates up to two guests in The Residence, which features a living room, bedroom and shower, together with nine First Apartments, 70 Business Studios and 415 Economy Smart Seats.
Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways Chief Executive Officer, said: “Sydney is one of our busiest and best performing long-haul routes where we have experienced increased demand, particularly in our premium cabins, since the launch 10 years ago.“By introducing the A380 on the second daily flight, we are able to ensure our flagship product is on all of the Sydney services each week. The upgrade of this service will help fulfil growing demand, benefiting travellers to and from Abu Dhabi, and across Etihad Airways’ global network.”
About Etihad Airways A380
Etihad Airways has taken the finest details from the best service hospitality establishments around the world to redefine the A380 travel experience – from the comfort of a seat and finest cuisine to new inflight amenities and extensive entertainment options. Inflight chefs create a made-to-order dining experience from a larder of fresh ingredients for guests travelling in The Residence and First Class.
The Residence is an ultra-private, three-room suite featuring a living room with a 32” LCD monitor, bedroom with a double bed, separate en-suite shower room and dedicated personal Butler trained at the world-renowned Savoy Butler Academy in London to look after the needs of its discerning guests. The cabin also comes with a private chef ready to custom-create menus to order.
The nine First Apartments in First Class are private living spaces featuring a flat-screen television, a chilled mini-bar, personal vanity unit, wardrobe and a fully equipped shower room for the exclusive use of First Class guests.
The 70-configured Business Studios are located on the upper deck of the A380, all offering direct aisle access and a fully flat bed.
The Lobby, a luxurious lounge located between the First Class and Business Class cabins, features two comfortable sofas and a staffed bar, enhancing the sense of serenity.
Onboard Food and Beverage Managers, with experience of working in luxury hotels and top restaurants, guide guests travelling in Business Class through the extensive menu options available and provide recommendations on the perfect accompaniment for their meals.
A Flying Nanny, trained by the world-famous Norland College in the UK, is on board every A380 to provide childcare support for families travelling with young children.
The main deck features 415 Economy Smart Seats which offer unique ergonomic fixed-wing headrests, lumbar support and an 11-inch personal, high-definition monitor screen to enjoy over 750 hours of on-demand movies, TV programmes, improved gaming and live TV news and sports via the state-of-the-art Panasonic eX3 entertainment system.
Flights can be booked at etihad.com, via Etihad Airways Contact Centres, or through travel agents.
Flight schedule: Abu Dhabi – Sydney, effective 29 October 2017:
Flight No.
|
Origin
|
Departs
|
Destination
|
Arrives
|
Frequency
|
Aircraft
|
EY450
|
Abu Dhabi
|
09:25
|
Sydney
|
06:15 +1
|
Daily
|
Airbus 380
|
EY451
|
Sydney
|
16:20
|
Abu Dhabi
|
23:55
|
Daily
|
Airbus 380
|
EY454
|
Abu Dhabi
|
22:15
|
Sydney
|
19:15 +1
|
Daily
|
Airbus 380
|
EY455
|
Sydney
|
21:50
|
Abu Dhabi
|
05:40 +1
|
Daily
|
Airbus 380
|
Note: All departures and arrivals are listed in local time.
+1 denotes following day
