Etihad Airways Archives

December 25, 2017

Abu Dhabi, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE) – Etihad Airways is to operate its flagship Boeing 787 Dreamliner on the Abu Dhabi – Casablanca route, effective 1 May 2018.

Casablanca will be the first North African destination to be served by Etihad Airways’ next generation aircraft which is fast becoming the backbone of the Abu Dhabi-based carrier’s long-haul fleet. The three-class aircraft, featuring eight First Suites, 28 Business Studios and 199 Economy Smart Seats, will replace the Airbus A330s currently operating daily on the route, and will offer additional cargo capacity.

Introduction of the 787 Dreamliner will also see a scheduling change that will optimise timings for customers travelling to and from Morocco’s port city and commercial hub. Etihad Airways will maintain an early morning arrival into Casablanca and operate a revised mid-morning return service that will improve connectivity to a wider network of destinations across Asia and Australia, including Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, Perth, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.

Etihad Airways has a fleet of 18 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners operating from Abu Dhabi to 17 destinations worldwide – Amman, Amsterdam, Beijing, Beirut, Brisbane, Düsseldorf, Madrid, Melbourne, Nagoya, Perth, Riyadh, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, Washington and Zurich. Beginning 25 March 2018, Geneva will become the newest Boeing 787 European destination.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to deploy our flagship Boeing 787 Dreamliner on yet another route that will give even more guests the opportunity to experience our next generation aircraft.

“In addition to maintaining attractive timings for guests travelling between Abu Dhabi and Casablanca, we will create further suitable connections in many markets that will benefit more travellers.”

Mr Baumgartner added that with further Boeing 787 Dreamliners fast joining the fleet, the airline will continue to upgrade existing routes with ground-breaking cabin interiors that have set a benchmark for high product and service levels in the region and across the world.

Etihad Airways’ Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners provide highest levels of comfort, entertainment and inflight connectivity. On-board décor and lighting have been inspired by contemporary Arabian design, including the spectacular dome of the newly-opened Louvre Abu Dhabi, complementing the signature ‘Facets of Abu Dhabi’ identity introduced by the airline during its livery relaunch in 2014. Etihad Airways has pending deliveries of 53 Dreamliners.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner schedule to Casablanca, Morocco, effective 1 May 2018 (all times local):

Flight No.	Origin	Departs	Destination	Arrives	Frequency	Aircraft
EY613	Abu Dhabi	02:45	Casablanca	08:10	Daily	Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
EY612	Casablanca	09:55	Abu Dhabi	20:25	Daily	Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

December 11, 2017

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Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – In addition to its complimentary inflight service and hospitality offering, Etihad Airways has introduced a selection of inflight products aimed at enhancing the travel experience and providing more choice for its guests in Economy Class. The items are available for purchase at attractive prices on a selected number of routes to and from Abu Dhabi.

The new selection includes comfort items such as Christian Lacroix male and female amenity kits featuring exclusive skincare products by pioneering Hungarian skincare brand Omorovicza; Christian Lacroix cotton sleepwear in a range of sizes; Piper-Heidsieck Cuvee Brut NV champagne; Coffee Planet cold brew coffee; and tasty snack boxes with sweet and healthy treats complementing the custom free meal service.

Linda Celestino, Vice President Guest Experience and Delivery, said: “Etihad Airways is always looking at new ways to give our guests more power and control over their experience, through options to customise and personalise their journey.

“In addition to providing extra comfort and choice in the air, some of the items are great gift ideas, particularly in the run up to the holiday season. We will monitor guest satisfaction and aim to expand the range of items for sale in the future.”

Items available for onboard purchase:

Paris, London and all Australian sectors in Economy Class:
Cold brewed coffee from Coffee Planet: USD 4 / AED 15 a glass
All long haul and ultra-long haul (except US) sectors in Economy Class:
Piper-Heidsieck Cuvee Brut NV champagne: USD 8 / AED 30 per glass
All ULH sectors (except US routes) in all cabins:
Christian Lacroix male and female branded amenity kits with Omorovicza products: USD 22 / AED 80
Christian Lacroix branded sleepwear: USD 35 / AED 130
In January 2018, a Snack Box featuring both sweet and healthy snacks to suit guests’ differing tastes and cravings will be introduced.

Etihad Airways recently began introducing a range of enhanced services for Economy Class customers, including pay-for lounge access and chauffeur transfers at a number of airports on the airline’s global network, neighbour-free seats and extra-legroom seats.

November 27, 2017

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, once again marked the start of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with a low-level fly-past over Yas Marina Circuit.

The fly-past has become synonymous with the race with the flagship A380 aircraft flying over the iconic circuit at approximately 4.50pm. The A380 was accompanied by the Aermacchi MB-339NAT fast jets of the UAE’s air display team, Al Fursan.

Captain Ali Al Jabri, an Etihad Airways A380 pilot and Vice President Corporate Safety and Quality, embarked on the flight for the seventh year in a row, and was joined by Captain Sulaiman Yaqoobi, Captain Adel Al Zubaidi and Captain Kian Siew Beh in the flight deck.

Captain Al Jabri said: “It’s such an honour to once again conduct the fly-past which is watched by millions of viewers around the world and the thousands at Yas Marina Circuit.”

The superjumbo – tail number A6-APD – passed over the start line and home straight of the circuit at 800 feet and travelling at 220 knots.

October 22, 2017

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Beijing, China – Etihad Airways and Alibaba’s Tmall and Alitrip will today debut a specially branded aircraft livery for the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival 2017. Five aircraft emblazoned with this special 11.11 exterior will depart from Abu Dhabi travelling to four destinations in Greater China – Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Hong Kong. In the coming month, these five aircraft will carry this unique branding to over 40 cities across Etihad Airways’ global network.

China has over 721 million internet users and the ecommerce industry in China has grown continuously over the past decade. Tmall is the lead player in the country’s ecommerce industry. Its 11.11 Global Shopping Festival has quickly become the largest and most influential online shopping festival in China.

China is the UAE’s second-largest trading partner. This partnership proactively executes China’s ‘Belt and Road’ initiative, facilitating economic ties and cultural exchange between China and the UAE. At the same time, it takes Chinese culture to Europe, the US and Africa via the Abu Dhabi hub.

From the 20^thof October, five Etihad Airways’ aircraft complete with the new branding will officially take to the skies over a five day period. These five aircraft include three types from the airline’s modern fleet – two Boeing 787 Dreamliners will fly to Shanghai and Beijing, with two Airbus A330 aircraft flying to Chengdu and Hong Kong. Additionally, one Airbus A380 aircraft, featuring Etihad Airways’ award-winning First Apartments and The Residence cabins, will fly to London, New York, Sydney and Paris. Together, these five aircraft will fly via the Abu Dhabi hub to Etihad Airways’ destinations in Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas. Over the course of the next month, they will carry the 11.11 branding to over 40 global destinations, carrying hundreds of thousands of travellers around the world.

To further celebrate the Tmall 11.11 Global Shopping Festival, Etihad Airways will work with their partners and top English Premier League team Manchester City Football Club to share messages celebrating 11.11. 111 lucky guests who book travel to the UK during the promotion will be eligible for tickets to see Manchester City play Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in March 2018. Elements of the 11.11 promotion will be seen at the football club’s home, the Etihad Stadium, as well as in Abu Dhabi International Airport and in Etihad Airways’ inflight magazine, Atlas. These efforts are designed to drive the promotion of the 11.11 event which is aligned to Tmall’s concept of ‘Global Buying, Global Selling’.

Etihad Airways continues to build on its long-term relationship with Alibaba Group. The airline signed a partnership agreement with Alitrip to launch its first online flagship store in February of this year. With access to nearly 200 million registered Alitrip users, the online store has significantly enhanced Etihad Airways’ digital reach in the Chinese market and made its remarkable products and services even more accessible to Chinese guests.

By seizing the opportunities presented by the Tmall 11.11 Global Shopping Festival 2017, the two parties will expand their innovative partnership across the ecommerce arena. The two brands will continue to work together with the ultimate goal of improving their awareness and influence in the global marketplace.

Etihad Airways possesses a strong global network and best-in-class innovative technologies and services, while Tmall boasts a complete commercial ecosystem and significant big data resources. With these complementary strengths, the two parties expect even broader cooperation over time. In the near future, they will continue to discuss detailed cooperation plans for mobile payment, big data support, as well as tailored promotion, respective membership programs and ancillary services to improve passengers’ comprehensive travel experience.

Mohammad Al Bulooki, Etihad Airways Executive Vice President – Commercial, said, “Alibaba is a very important partner for Etihad Airways. As a global airline, we continuously research and deliver services to meet our Chinese customers’ needs and strive for improvement in all areas of our operation. China is an important growth market and we need to follow the market trends. Etihad Airways will work closely with Alibaba to lead the way and deliver on the high customer expectation in China, and to promote Abu Dhabi in this rapidly developing marketplace.”

Hu Chenjie, Alibaba Group Vice President and Alitrip Vice President, said, “We are delighted to enter into this special cooperation with Etihad Airways, a prestigious, world-leading airline. With the power of Etihad Airways, we can enhance global passengers’ awareness of both the Alibaba and Alitrip brands, allowing the ecological chain we painstakingly built to reach more passengers worldwide. Guided by Alibaba’s global strategy, we partner with Etihad Airways, helping consumers to experience unique global destinations, especially emerging destinations such as Abu Dhabi, the rest of the UAE, as well as the Middle East and Africa.”

As the annual 11.11 Global Shopping Festival is drawing near, Etihad Airways will shortly launch a promotional campaign via its online flagship store on Alitrip, offering four benefits for consumers as below:

Etihad Airways Advance Purchase Cards
A three-day ‘private fare’ for the EY flagship store, from November 11
‘Global Travel for 1 CNY’ raffle draw, with zero-fare tickets to Nagoya and Abu Dhabi on offer as prizes
Special fares to 11 destinations, subject to conditions

For more information on Etihad Airways’ Official flagship store on the Alitrip platform, please visit:

https://etihadairways.Alitrip.com

October 19, 2017

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Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Louvre Abu Dhabi today signed the first exclusive platinum partnership with Etihad Airways. The symbolic ceremony took place under the museum’s spectacular dome and its ‘Rain of Light’ effect.

Louvre Abu Dhabi will officially open on 11 November as an iconic landmark on the city’s geographical, cultural and tourist landscape. The architectural masterpiece is one of only a few truly universal museums in the world, awe-inspiring in both its scale and design.

His Excellency Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General of the Department of Culture & Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said: “This important partnership comes at an exciting time as we prepare for our grand opening next month. Louvre Abu Dhabi and Etihad Airways not only bring people from around the world to Abu Dhabi, but they are both universal in nature. For the museum, this idea of universal is about understanding human connections from the beginning of time until the present through art. We look forward to celebrating Louvre Abu Dhabi’s opening with the support of our Platinum partner.”

As a Platinum partner, Etihad will work closely with Louvre Abu Dhabi on areas of brand partnership, marketing, social media, public and media relations, events and exhibitions, cultural exchanges, cargo support, inflight programming, and travel trade support. Etihad Airways’ destination management company, Hala, will collaborate with the museum on bespoke tour packages in Abu Dhabi.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways Chief Executive Officer, said: “Louvre Abu Dhabi is a universal institution showcasing the achievements of mankind in art, in culture, in humanity – a beacon welcoming visitors to these shores for generations to come.

“Etihad Airways and Louvre Abu Dhabi are two leading characters in the same story and we share a deep bond. As the national airline of the UAE, flying from Abu Dhabi to the world, we are also a universal connector of people. Together with our partners at Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Department of Culture & Tourism – Abu Dhabi, we are committed to bringing guests from across our global network to our home, and to co-creating experiences which will showcase this magnificent museum.”

October 13, 2017

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Linda Celestino, Etihad Airways Vice President Guest Experience and Delivery, briefs the designers for the Etihad Airways loungewear competition

October 12, 2017

Abu Dhabi, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Etihad Airways has announced plans to launch scheduled flights between Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, and Baku, the capital city of the Republic of Azerbaijan, effective 2 March 2018.

The new route is being introduced to capitalise on the strong and growing demand for flights between the United Arab Emirates and Azerbaijan. The service will be operated three times a week using a 136-seat Airbus A320, configured with 16 seats in Business Class and 120 in Economy.

Azerbaijan introduced a visa waiver programme for UAE nationals in November 2015 and expanded it to other GCC nations in early 2016. This prompted a surge in travel from across the GCC to the emerging tourist destination located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, which offers visitors access to vast areas of unspoiled nature and centuries-old culture. Baku, which sits on the Caspian Sea, is the country’s primary gateway and commercial centre.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways Chief Executive Officer, said: “The creation of the first ever air corridor linking the two capital cities demonstrates the importance of strengthening business, tourism and cultural ties between the UAE and Azerbaijan.

“The newest destination on Etihad Airways’ global network also reflects our commitment to linking Abu Dhabi with emerging markets that seek direct flights and onward connections to other parts of the world.

“Based on the growth witnessed in recent months from the UAE and neighbouring Gulf countries to Azerbaijan, we are confident that the new route will boost traffic from the UAE, and in turn we look forward to welcoming Azerbaijanis on our flights to Abu Dhabi and beyond.”

During the first nine months of 2016, foreign tourists visiting Azerbaijan totalled 1.7 million. The number of visitors from the UAE and GCC increased 30 times on the same nine-month period in 2015, fuelled by the easing of visa restrictions.

Earlier this year, the UAE-Azerbaijan Joint Economic Committee said both countries were to focus on nine key areas for bilateral cooperation, including air transport, tourism, communications, environment, water, agriculture, renewable energy, modern technology and industry. Non-oil trade between the two countries reached over US$605 million in 2015, increasing by US$228 million during the first nine months of 2016.

Etihad Airways’ new flights, operating every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, provide optimum timings for guests departing and arriving in Abu Dhabi and Baku. The schedule also provides convenient connections to and from the airline’s global network.

Flight schedule: Abu Dhabi – Baku, effective 2 March 2018:

Flight No.	Origin	Departs	Destination	Arrives	Frequency	Aircraft
EY297	Abu Dhabi	10:10	Baku	13:15	Wed, Fri, Sat	A320
EY298	Baku	16:30	Abu Dhabi	19:25	Wed, Fri, Sat	A320

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

October 3, 2017

Three additional weekly flights will also be introduced during peak winter period

Abu Dhabi, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Etihad Airways is re-timing its daily Abu Dhabi – Medina flights to a daytime operation and will also introduce three additional weekly services during the peak winter period.

Effective 1 February 2018, the current overnight departure from Abu Dhabi will be replaced by a mid-morning flight offering an attractive schedule for travellers flying between the UAE’s capital city and Medina in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The new daytime schedule will also improve connectivity to a number of destinations served by Etihad Airways across the Indian Subcontinent such as Colombo, Delhi, Islamabad, Karachi and Mumbai. There will also be new two-way connections to key North Asian markets, including Beijing, Seoul and Shanghai.

Ahead of the scheduling change, the airline will also increase frequency from 7 to 10 flights a week for two months between December 1 and 31 January 2018 to cater for demand during the peak Umrah travel period. The additional capacity will be operated with a two-class Airbus A320 featuring 16 seats in Business Class and 120 in Economy.

Mohammad Al Bulooki, Etihad Airways Executive Vice President Commercial, said: “The re-timing of our Medina flights to a daytime operation and introduction of additional services strengthens our business proposition and commitment to the Saudi Arabian market.

“The changes will greatly benefit our guests travelling between Abu Dhabi and Medina, and offer improved connectivity across the Indian Subcontinent and Asia.”

Saudi businesses will also be able to take advantage of the additional capacity. Etihad Cargo carries popular Saudi exports from Medina – predominantly dates and holy water – to more than 100 destinations around its network.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline currently operates 77 flights a week between the UAE’s capital city and four destinations across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam and Medina.

Flight schedule: Abu Dhabi – Medina, effective 1 February 2018:

Flight No.	Origin	Departs	Destination	Arrives	Frequency	Aircraft
EY345	Abu Dhabi	09:30	Medina	11:20	Daily	A320
EY346	Medina	16:00	Abu Dhabi	19:25	Daily	A320

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

Etihad Airways Announces Casablanca As New Boeing 787 Dreamliner Destination

Etihad Airways Introduces A Range Of Comfort Items And Amenities For Purchase On Selected Flights

Etihad Airways Marks Start Of Grand Prix With Spectacular A380 Fly-Past

Etihad Airways Partners with Alibaba’s Tmall and Alitrip to Launch Five Specially Branded Aircraft for the Tmall 11.11 Global Shopping Festival

Louvre Abu Dhabi Signs Landmark Partnership With Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways Launches Loungewear Competition With Emirati Fashion Designers

Etihad Airways To Launch Flights To Azerbaijan

Etihad Airways Improves Timings On Abu Dhabi – Medina Route