The initial phase of the agreement was launched in March 2017 and saw both Etihad Airways and EgyptAir place their codes on each other’s flights operating between Abu Dhabi and Cairo. The second phase of expansion of the current codeshare partnership will see Etihad Airways place its ‘EY’ code on EgyptAir flights to a number of African destinations including Ndjamena in Chad, Nairobi in Kenya, Khartoum in Sudan, Entebbe in Uganda, Johannesburg in South Africa, and subject to government approvals, on flights to Nigeria, Eritrea and Tanzania, through the Star Alliance carrier’s Cairo hub.

The expanded partnership will also see EgyptAir place its ‘MS’ code on Etihad Airways flights from Abu Dhabi to Seoul, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, and subject to government approvals, on flights to China.

Etihad Airways has been serving the Abu Dhabi – Cairo route since 2004, and currently operates five daily flights between the two capitals. EGYPTAIR operates up to three daily services on the route.

Top Copyright Photo: Etihad Airways Airbus A330-243 A6-EYH (msn 729) BRU (Ton Jochems). Image: 941607.

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

EgyptAir aircraft slide show:

Bottom Copyright Photo: EgyptAir Boeing 777-36N ER SU-GDO (msn 38289) LHR (SPA). Image: 941608.

Boeing has announced an agreement with Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, to provide multiple crew management solutions to support the planning and operation of the airline’s 7,500 crewmembers.

Through the agreement, Etihad Airways will integrate Crew Pairing, Rostering and Fatigue Risk Management solutions to optimize planning, crew satisfaction and reduce costs. Provided through Boeing subsidiary Jeppesen, these solutions are powered by Boeing AnalytX and provide airlines with advanced optimization and analysis.

“By adopting crew solutions, we are confident that we will be able to respond and adapt more quickly to the ever-changing airline factors and constraints within our operation,” said Rick Allen, senior vice president operations, Etihad Airways. “Our crew team will also appreciate that their preferences will be more flexibly considered, as we will now be able to publish crew schedules further in advance.”

Crew Pairing helps airlines create optimized work duties, improving crew efficiency and operational robustness, while minimizing cost. Crew Rostering allows airlines to build quality rosters that respect crews’ preferences and relevant constraints, while reducing total costs and time to market. Fatigue Risk Management solutions, supported by the Boeing Alertness Model, provide strategies and proven solutions for reducing fatigue risk in crew rosters.

Copyright Photo: Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner A6-BLT (msn 39667) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 941788.

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

Barcelona will become the second city in Spain served by Etihad Airways, complementing the airline’s existing daily service to the capital Madrid.

The new service is being launched in time for the start of the 2018 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Middle East’s largest sporting event, held from November 23-25 at the capital’s 5.55 kilometre Yas Marina Circuit.

Etihad Airways operates an extensive codeshare partnership with Air Europa (UX), on the Spanish airline’s scheduled services from Madrid to Barcelona and 18 other major European cities.

Flight schedule: Abu Dhabi – Barcelona, effective November 21, 2018:

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

Copyright Photo: Etihad Airways Airbus A330-243 A6-EYI (msn 730) BRU (Ton Jochems). Image: 942225.

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

Etihad Airways will operate four daily services, the most frequent number of flights operated by any UAE airline to the Egyptian capital, offering greater choice and optimised timings to benefit business and leisure customers travelling point-to-point between the two cities.

In April 2018, Etihad Airways and EgyptAir expanded their codeshare partnership from Abu Dhabi and Cairo to include several African destinations served by the Egyptian flag-carrier from its Cairo hub, including Ndjamena in Chad, Khartoum in Sudan, Entebbe in Uganda, and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, and subject to government approvals, Abuja and Kano in Nigeria, and Asmara in Eritrea

EgyptAir places its ‘MS’ code on Etihad Airways flights from Abu Dhabi to Seoul, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, and subject to government approvals, on flights to China.

Etihad Airways’ two-class Boeing 787-9 features 28 Business Studios offering direct aisle access, a fully-flat bed of up to 80.5 inches in length, and an increase of 20 per cent in personal space.

Flight schedule: Abu Dhabi – Cairo, effective October 28, 2018 (all times local):

Copyright Photo: Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner A6-BLH (msn 39653) ZRH (Andi Hiltl). Image: 941111.

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

Etihad Airways has announced the introduction of a new scheduled service linking Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, and Barcelona, Spain, effective November 21, 2018. The route will initially be operated five times a week by a two-class Airbus A330-200 before becoming a daily operation from March 31, 2019.

Additionally, Etihad Airways has announced that it will operate the Airbus A380 on its second daily service linking Abu Dhabi and Paris Charles de Gaulle. This will transform the airline’s operation between the UAE and French capitals into a year-round all-A380 service, joining London Heathrow as the second European destination enjoying daily multiple visits by Etihad’s award-winning double-decker aircraft.

Barcelona will become the second city in Spain served by Etihad Airways, complementing the airline’s existing daily service to the capital Madrid. The new link will provide business and leisure travelers with convenient timings to travel between Abu Dhabi and Barcelona, also providing seamless onward connections through Abu Dhabi to major cities in the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Korea and Australia.

The airline has operated the A380 between Abu Dhabi and Paris on one of its two daily flights since July 1, 2017, with the service performing very strongly since its introduction.

Flight schedule: Abu Dhabi – Barcelona, effective November 21, 2018:

Note: All departures and arrivals are listed in local time

Flight schedule: Abu Dhabi – Paris, effective October 1, 2018:

Copyright Photo: Etihad Airways Airbus A380-861 A6-APB (msn 170) LHR (Robbie Shaw). Image: 942380.

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

Etihad Airways has made this announcement:

The airline increased revenues from core operations by 1.9% to US$ 6.1 billion (2016: US$ 5.9 billion), while reducing losses in the core operations by US $432 million to US $1.52 billion (2016: loss of US $1.95 billion). Results published for 2017 are for core airline operations and exclude any extraordinary or one-off items; 2016 figures have been restated to show a like-for-like comparison.

Passenger and cargo yields improved as a result of capacity discipline, changes to the network with an increased focus on point-to-point traffic, leveraging of technology, and improving market conditions.

A strong focus on efficiency delivered a 7.3% reduction in unit costs, despite the adverse impact of US$ 337 million from higher fuel prices.

The airline reduced administration and general expenses by 14%, or US$ 162 million, over 2016.

Etihad Airways carried 18.6 million passengers at a 78.5% load factor. Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs) increased by 1% in 2017 reflecting a significant moderation of capacity growth, and contributing to an improvement in the quality of the airline’s revenues.

Etihad Cargo reduced capacity by 6%; however, revenues declined only marginally, down 0.8%, driven by stronger load factors and yields. Etihad Cargo carried 552,000 tonnes of cargo in 2017.

H.E. Mohamed Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Board of Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Our airline continues to be a key driver of Abu Dhabi’s vision to develop its tourism sector, grow commerce and strengthen links to key regional and international markets.

“This was a pivotal year in Etihad’s transformation journey. The Board, new executive leadership team and all our employees worked extremely hard to navigate the challenges we faced. We made significant progress in driving improved performance and we are on track in 2018.”

Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Aviation Group, added: “We made good progress in improving the quality of our revenues, streamlining our cost base, improving our cash-flow and strengthening our balance sheet.

“These are solid first steps in an ongoing journey to transform this business into one that is positioned for financially sustainable growth over the long term. I would like to thank our people for their hard work and dedication in 2017.

“It is crucial that we maintain this momentum, retaining talent and attracting leading professionals from around the world to work alongside our highly-skilled UAE national workforce.”

2017 Operational Highlights

Etihad Airways received twelve new aircraft in 2017, including two Airbus A380s, nine Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, and an Airbus A330F. These aircraft replaced 16 older Airbus A340, A330, A319 passenger and A330F cargo aircraft, which exited operations, thereby reducing the average fleet age to just six years.

In 2017, the airline announced that it will cease operating to Dallas / Fort Worth, Entebbe, Jaipur, San Francisco, Tehran, and Venice. A new route between Abu Dhabi and Baku was launched in March 2018 and services to Barcelona will start on 21 November 2018.

The global route network was further improved with the introduction of the Airbus A380 on one of Etihad Airways’ two daily services to Paris Charles de Gaulle, and the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on services to Amsterdam, Athens, Amman, Madrid, Beijing, Seoul, Shanghai, Nagoya, and Melbourne.

Etihad Airways recorded network punctuality of 82% for flight departures and 86% for arrivals in 2017 – results that place the airline as one of the most reliable airlines in the world for 2017. OTP (on time performance) for departures at the airline’s Abu Dhabi hub was 79%, and 89% for arrivals.

Since its inception, Etihad has placed a strong focus on developing young Emirati talent into world-class aviation professionals, and by the end of 2017 employed 2,729 Emirati staff, representing 11% of the total Etihad Aviation Group workforce.

Peter Baumgartner, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “Our transformation process has delivered tangible results to date, with a significant improvement in performance for 2017.

“Passenger yields for the last quarter were up a very healthy 9% versus the same period a year before. On-time performance was at record levels and operationally we continue to drive down costs without compromising on safety or quality across all areas of the business.

“The major driver to becoming a more agile and efficient organisation, resilient in a very competitive landscape, is our continued investment in skilled professionals, technology and digital innovation, which is going to allow us to become smarter, faster and even more responsive to the ever-changing needs of our customers, making Etihad the airline of choice. These developments are at the heart of our transformation strategy.”

[Note] Results published for 2017 are for core operations only and exclude any extraordinary or one-off items; 2016 figures have been restated to show a like-for-like comparison.

Top Copyright Photo: Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner A6-BLJ (msn 39657) AMS (Ton Jochems). Image: 940513.

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

• Robust organisational structure to deliver transformation of the group
• New leadership team announced: promotion of Mohammad Al Bulooki to Chief Operating Officer, appointment of Robin Kamark as Chief Commercial Officer, and Ibrahim Nassir as Chief Human Resources & Organisational Development Officer, as part of new seven-strong C-suite
• Almost half of the leadership team are UAE nationals

Under the new structure, the group will be reorganised into seven business divisions – Operations, Commercial, Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO), Human Resources, Finance, Support Services and Transformation, led by a new executive leadership team reporting to Group Chief Executive Officer (Group CEO), Tony Douglas, who also assumes responsibility for Etihad Airways.

His Excellency Mohamed Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei, Chairman of Etihad Aviation Group, said: “As we approach our 15-year anniversary, the reorganisation and restructure of the group and leadership team will help us lay the foundations for Etihad to optimise its value as a world-leading group, streamline operations, and capitalise on opportunities, allowing the business to focus on improving its core operating performance.

“We recorded an improvement in our operating results for 2017 and are confident that we are back on track this year, strengthening our position group-wide after a period of consolidation, bolstering our presence in key global markets, and continuing to support Abu Dhabi’s growth in the aviation, trade and tourism sectors.”

Peter Baumgartner will now serve as the Senior Strategic Advisor to Tony Douglas as part of the executive leadership team. Having led Etihad Airways as CEO since 2016, Mr. Baumgartner will advise at group level on global partnerships and innovation.

Mohammad Al Bulooki, Etihad Airways Executive Vice President Commercial, has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer, and will be responsible for core areas including network operations, flight and technical operations, fleet engineering, aviation security and safety, as well the Etihad Airport Services entity which manages ground and cargo handling, and catering. He is also responsible for the airline’s pilot and cabin crew community.

Robin Kamark has been appointed Chief Commercial Officer. Mr. Kamark, who joined Etihad Aviation Group in April 2017, will spearhead the overall commercial strategy of the airline, including cargo, sales and marketing, revenue management, customer service, network planning, and alliances. He is also charged with leading Etihad Airways’ destination management arm, Hala. Ray Gammell will assume responsibility for airline equity partners.

Ibrahim Nassir has been appointed Chief Human Resources & Organisational Development Officer, and is responsible for a wide range of support functions including, among others, learning, organisational development, medical services, talent acquisition, rewards, people services, and immigration. Mr. Nassir will also lead the group’s Emiratisation programme.

The new group organisational structure also sees Abdul Khaliq Saeed become Chief Engineering Officer (MRO); Mark Powers, Chief Financial Officer; Mana Al Mulla, Chief Support Services Officer; and Akram Alami, Chief Transformation Officer.

General Counsel and Company Secretary, Henning zur Hausen; Senior Vice President Government & International Affairs, Ahmed Al Qubaisi; and Vice President Corporate Affairs, Amina Taher, continue in their respective positions, also reporting to the Group CEO.

Tony Douglas, Group CEO, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “We are now well equipped to deliver our plans as a reinvigorated innovator brand, with an optimised and profitable network, technologically advanced fleet, and a strengthened position as the global airline of choice, run by a seasoned team of talented professionals. The fact that almost half of our leadership team are UAE nationals reflects our strong succession planning efforts and commitment to developing Emirati talent.

“We are already seeing positive results even during this early phase of our transformation. The eventual aim of this process is for Etihad to be in the best shape to ensure its long-term sustainability, enabling it to meet the challenges of an aviation industry in constant flux.

“Etihad is now positioned to continue supporting the mandate of our shareholder, and the growth and prominence of Abu Dhabi.”

Etihad’s transformation program has delivered measurable results to date, with the core airline division recently reporting a 22 per cent improvement in core operating performance for 2017, driven by improved revenues of US$ 6.1 billion and a 7.3 per cent reduction in unit costs.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Etihad Airways): Etihad Airways Airbus A380-861 A6-APH (msn 199) (Year of Zayed 2018) LHR (SPA). Image: 941800.

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

The one-stop-shop services – the first in the region to be offered by an airline – will be carried out by members of the Etihad medical team, all of whom are qualified in aviation and transport medicine.

The first service allows guests, who require medical clearance prior to travel, the opportunity to request an Etihad aviation doctor to visit them and conduct an evaluation in consultation with their attending physician.

All medical forms and assessments will be completed by the Etihad doctor on-site, leading to a recommendation about their “fit to fly” status within one day.

The second service is the introduction of an in-flight nurse who can accompany guests during their trip and provide medical support.

Dr. Nadia Bastaki, Etihad Airways’ Vice President Medical Services, said: “Etihad is delighted to be the first airline in the region to provide these new medical services which will cater for guests who require medical assistance during their travel.

“Both services will help ensure our guests have a smooth and hassle-free journey, greatly removing unnecessary anxiety they sometimes feel when travelling.”

Opening on July 25, 2018 Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi will complement the wide range of award-winning leisure and entertainment attractions already on offer on Yas Island, reinforcing the island as a destination globally.

Robin Kamark, Etihad Airways Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We are delighted to be the official airline partner of Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. We continually look for ways to showcase the very best of Abu Dhabi as we bring international tourists from around the world to our home. This relationship will solidify our commitment in ensuring our guests have a memorable travel experience in the air and on the ground.”

As airline partner, Etihad Airways will work closely with Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi on areas of brand partnership, marketing, inflight programming, and travel trade support.

Olivier Garaïalde, CEO Farah Experiences, said: “The opening of Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi is a key milestone within the leisure scene in Abu Dhabi, and will further reinforce Yas Island as a world-class leisure and entertainment hub. We are confident that through this strategic partnership, we will co-create experiences which will showcase our distinctive destination to the world.”

Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi will feature a total of 29 state-of-the-art rides, interactive family-friendly attractions and unique live entertainment across six fully immersive lands.

From the action and adrenaline-fuelled adventures of DC to the wacky and wonderful world of Warner Bros. Animation – the 1.65 million sq. ft. park will offer captivating and interactive experiences, bringing together some of the world’s most iconic characters and stories under one roof for the first time in the region.

A promotional logo jet is very likely to promote the attraction.

Map:

Etihad Airways inaugurated services to Toronto on October 2005, and since then the route has proved very successful for the airline, recording consistently strong demand to and from both cities.

Approximately 45,000 Canadian citizens reside in the UAE, with over 150 Canadian companies registered across the country. Citizens of both countries now enjoy visa-free entry for business and tourism on stays of up to six months.

Etihad Airways has a codeshare partnership in place with Air Canada, with the Canadian flag carrier placing its ‘AC’ code on Etihad services from Toronto to Abu Dhabi and from London Heathrow to Abu Dhabi. Under the agreement, Etihad Airways places its ‘EY’ code on Air Canada’s multiple daily services from Toronto to points across Canada including Montreal, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, St.Johns, Halifax, Regina, and Fort McMurray.

The additional frequencies will also benefit Etihad Cargo customers who can expect greater schedule flexibility and a 60 per cent cargo capacity increase on the route.

Abu Dhabi – Toronto schedule:

Effective 28 October 2018 (Timings local):

In other news, effective October 3, 2018, Etihad Airways will introduce the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on its scheduled services from Abu Dhabi to Rabat, capital of the Kingdom of Morocco, replacing the Airbus A330-300 currently serving the route. 

The introduction of the technologically advanced aircraft on Rabat services is a further boost to its presence in the Moroccan market. On May 1, 2018, the airline placed the 787 Dreamliner on its daily flights to the kingdom’s commercial hub, Casablanca.

Etihad Airways’ three-class version of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner features 8 private First Suites, 28 Business Studios and 199 Economy Smart Seats.

To meet summer peak travel demand, Etihad Airways recently added a third weekly service to Rabat, operating every Saturday until September 29. The extra flight provides more choice to the increasing number of point-to-point business and leisure travellers between both cities.

Etihad Airways has been serving Rabat since January 2016, providing the only long-haul link from the city, and the only service operated by the 787 Dreamliner.

Etihad Airways has had a codeshare partnership in place with Royal Air Maroc (RAM) since May 2007, with the Moroccan flag carrier placing its ‘AT’ code on Etihad services from Abu Dhabi to both Rabat and Casablanca.

Under the agreement, Etihad Airways places its ‘EY’ code on Royal Air Maroc’s services from Casablanca to Agadir, Marrakech and Tangier, and pending government approvals, from Casablanca to Abidjan in Ivory Coast, Conakry in Guinea, and Dakar in Senegal.

Abu Dhabi – Rabat schedule:

Effective October 3, 2018 (Timings local):

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Etihad): Etihad Airways Boeing 777-3FX ER A6-ETA (msn 34597) DUB (Rob Skinkis). Image: 932225.

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

The ‘Deal Fare’ includes a complimentary carry-on baggage allowance of 7kg and is available on flights between Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Azerbaijan.

Guests looking to add additional checked baggage after purchasing a ‘Deal Fare’ can simply buy extra allowance at check-in or enjoy a 20 per cent discount when buying in advance online.

Etihad Guest members who purchase the ‘Deal Fare’ can continue to enjoy free checked baggage allowance (Etihad Guest Silver – 10kg, Etihad Guest Gold – 15kg and Etihad Guest Platinum – 20kg).

Etihad Airways has successfully implemented several new ancillary products to provide guests additional choice including extra legroom seats, neighbor-free seats and preferred seating.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Etihad Airways): Etihad Airways Airbus A380-861 A6-API (msn 233) (Louvre Abu Dhabi) LHR (SPA). Image: 940639.

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

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Etihad Airways has made this announcement:

The partnership allows members to also accumulate miles on codeshare flights operated and marketed by Etihad Airways in partnership with Air Europa. In addition, Etihad Guest members can redeem miles for tickets across the Air Europa network.

The agreement provides for greater cooperation between the airlines’ frequent flyer programs, Etihad Guest and SUMA, enabling passengers to earn and redeem miles reciprocally. In both cases, the number of miles earned will depend upon the class of travel flown.

Air Europa currently flies across Europe including holiday resorts in the Canary and Balearic Islands as well as long-haul services to the Americas and the Caribbean.

Top Copyright Photo: Etihad Airways Airbus A380-861 A6-APE (msn 191) LHR (Rob Skinkis). Image: 943662.

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

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The flights will be operated by a two-class Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, featuring 28 Business Studios and 271 Economy Smart Seats.

The additional services will also provide more connecting opportunities for passengers travelling between London and key destinations on Etihad’s global network.

Abu Dhabi – London schedule for additional peak period services:

These services will operate in addition to Etihad Airways’ regularly scheduled 3 daily Abu Dhabi to London services which will continue to operate on 3-class Airbus A380 aircraft.

In addition to the seasonal increase of service to London, Etihad Airways has also recently announced seasonal frequency increases and aircraft upgrades on a number of key routes to meet increased demand over the peak winter period. This includes additional capacity to Bahrain, Belgrade, Cairo, Istanbul, Medina and Kuwait.

In other news, Etihad Airways has launched a contemporary airport lounge brand in partnership with No1 Lounges. To be known as ‘The House’, the project is the result of a unique collaboration between the airline and the award-winning lounge provider, which will operate the new brand. 

The project begins at London Heathrow, where Etihad Airways’ lounge will be rebranded ‘The House, home of Etihad Airways and other leading airlines’. The scope of the new lounge brand may be expanded to include other lounges.

No1 Lounges has worked closely with Etihad Airways to create a bold, contemporary and aspirational experience which will continue to deliver and exceed the service, hospitality and interior design expectations of the airline’s discerning customers.

The choice of UK-based No1 Lounges for this project follows a study of leading global lounge service providers and an extensive RFP process by the airline. No1 Lounges’ proven expertise and experience will see a number of enhancements to the lounge experience for Etihad Airways’ customers, building on the airline’s reputation for service excellence, and providing more choice and quality. This collaboration will also allow better utilisation of the lounge and make the experience accessible to a wider market.

Complimentary entry will continue to be offered to Etihad Airways Business Class and First Class customers, and to those travelling in The Residence. Gold and Platinum members of the airline’s Etihad Guest frequent flyer programme and Business Class and First Class travellers ticketed on codeshare partner services operated by Etihad Airways will also eligible for access.

The airline will also offer paid-for access to The House for its Economy Class travellers. The lounge will also continue to be used by the premium passengers of a small number of other airlines and, subject to availability, will be available for purchase by passengers of other airlines.

From launch, guests will enjoy a new, white-linen dining experience and a more extensive bar service, including freshly squeezed juices and smoothies, world coffees and a more sophisticated wine list.

Over the next year, the lounge will be reconfigured to include new lounge areas, bar, dining room, and reading room, as well as upgraded showers and prayer rooms. The new bar will also offer a comprehensive cocktail and mocktail list.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Etihad): Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner A6-BLS (msn 39664) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 940239.

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

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The new two-class 787 Dreamliner service features Etihad Airways’ next-generation Business and Economy Class cabins, configured with 299 seats – 28 Business Studios and 271 Economy Smart Seats.

Etihad Airways’ modern fleet of 21 Boeing 787-9 aircraft feature innovative, award-winning cabin designs and products, complemented by the airline’s acclaimed service and hospitality offering. Flights include Food and Beverage Managers in Business Class and a Flying Nanny in Economy Class to provide extra specialised care for families with young children.

Timetable

Boeing 787 schedule to Kuala Lumpur, effective December 20, 2018

Boeing 787 schedule to Brussels, effective January 3, 2019

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

About Etihad Airways’ Boeing 787-9 (two-class)

The 28 Business Studios offer direct aisle access, a fully-flat bed of up to 80.5 inches in length, and an increase of 20 per cent in personal space. Upholstered in fine Poltrona Frau Leather, the Business Studio is equipped with an in-seat massage and pneumatic cushion control system which enables guests to adjust the firmness and comfort of their seat.

Each Business Studio has an 18-inch personal touch-screen TV with noise-cancelling headsets. Guests can also enjoy mobile connectivity, onboard Wi-Fi and seven satellite channels of live TV.

271 Economy Smart Seats provide enhanced comfort with a unique ‘fixed wing’ headrest, adjustable lumbar support, a seat width of approximately 19 inches and an 11.1” personal TV monitor on each seat. The aircraft has been designed with enhancements including humidity controls while air pressure levels are set to ensure a smoother flight, allowing guests to arrive feeling fresher.

The airline’s Boeing 787 fleet is equipped with the latest inflight entertainment system featuring over 750 hours of movies and programmes, as well as hundreds of music choices and a selection of games for both adults and children.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Etihad): Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner A6-BLR (msn 39663) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 939458.

Etihad aircraft slide show:

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MOU scope includes provision for:

• Joint codeshare operations as preferred partners between and beyond hubs
• Development of commercial agreements to enhance guest experience
• Coordinated Engineering and Cargo services in Abu Dhabi and Manama
• Plans to offer reciprocal ‘earn and burn’ on frequent flyer programs

The wide-ranging MOU covers scope to introduce joint codeshare operations between Abu Dhabi and Manama, as well as on the global flight networks beyond the two carriers’ GCC hubs.

The MOU also contains plans for greater commercial cooperation in the fields of cargo, engineering, guest experience and the optimisation of pilot training facilities.

In addition to exploring codeshare operations, the teams at Etihad Guest and Gulf Air Falconflyer loyalty programs will shortly begin discussions which would see members of each programme being offered reciprocal earn and burn opportunities.

The teams in both carriers’ engineering and cargo divisions are also set to begin talks about greater cooperation. These discussions would look at optimising MRO (maintenance repair operations) opportunities, as well as ways to increase volumes of freighter traffic flowing into and out of Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.

Gulf Air currently operates four return daily flights between Bahrain and Abu Dhabi while Etihad currently operates three return daily A320 operations between Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by the airline): Gulf Air Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner A9C-FA (msn 39996) LHR (Wingnut). Image: 944463.

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The inaugural flight, EY49, arrived in Barcelona from Abu Dhabi on November 28 carrying a special delegation of dignitaries, media representatives, influencers and senior members of Etihad Airways’ management team.

Photo: Etihad Airways.

Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, Air Arabia and Al Fursan took to the skies in unison today to celebrate the UAE’s 47th National Day, as well as commemorate the legacy and values of HH Sheikh Zayed. The late founding father of the UAE dedicated his life and leadership to unify and shape a better collective future for the nation, and today’s formation flight is a soaring display of unity as all four carriers showcase the UAE’s aviation success story to the nation and world.

The spectacular flypast – a world-first and a UAE civil aviation milestone – involved over 11 aircraft: a flydubai Boeing 737 MAX 8 (Zayed 1), an Air Arabia Airbus A320 (Zayed 2), an Etihad Airways Airbus A380 (Zayed 3) and an Emirates Airline Airbus A380 (Zayed 4), as well as seven Al Fursan aerobatic display jets from the UAE Air Force. All of the commercial aircraft within the formation were emblazoned with ‘Year of Zayed’ decals. This is also the first time this unique combination of aircraft types fly in formation.

The aircraft were proudly commanded by Captain Adrian Smith from flydubai, Captain Nadhem Al Hamad from Air Arabia, Captain Richard Dyson from Etihad Airways and Captain Abbas Shaban from Emirates Airline. The Al Fursan team was led by Lieutenant Colonel Nasser Al Obaidli.

Formation and flight path

The carefully choreographed ‘stair step’ aerial formation began this afternoon at 1300 hrs, when the aircraft took-off from Dubai World Central Al Maktoum International Airport. Once all of the aircraft established their holding positions with altitudes ranging from 2,000 feet to 5,000 feet with a 1,000 foot vertical separation, the formation commenced. Over the skies of Ras Al Khaimah, each aircraft adjusted its speed and turned to achieve a trail formation. The aircraft then descended into their positions and vertical separation was reduced to 300 feet.

Flying first in the ‘Year of Zayed’ formation was flydubai, cruising at an altitude of 1,000 feet and an airspeed of 210 knots, closely followed by Air Arabia, in line astern and stepped up at an altitude of 1,300 feet. Next came the Etihad Airbus A380 double-decker, trailing the first two aircraft  and flying at 1,600 feet, stepped up by the Emirates Airbus A380 flying at the highest altitude at 1,900 feet to make room for the seven Al Fursan jets set in an arrow formation ready to release their signature smoke trails in the colours of the UAE flag.

Together, the stunning UAE carrier formation flew with impressive precision across the coastline of the UAE, starting at Ras Al Khaimah, continuing on to Um Al Quwain and Ajman, and then passing landmarks including the Sharjah Corniche, Dubai’s Palm and World Islands with the Burj Khalifa skyline in the background, and finally crossing the Abu Dhabi Corniche and the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, where all aircraft then split and continued on to their respective airports for landing.

Executive remarks

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group, and Chairman of flydubai said: “His Highness Sheikh Zayed was a true pioneer and one of the most inspirational leaders of our time. It is fitting that on UAE National Day, such a spectacular aerial display be done to honour his legacy. This ground-breaking initiative showcases how unity and a shared vision can achieve outstanding results.  I am immensely proud of all of the teams across every airline, the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, and all the organisations who came together to plan and execute today’s unprecedented flight formation which will go down as an extraordinary moment for UAE civil aviation.”

His Excellency Mohamed Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei, Chairman of Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Today our nation celebrates the 47th National Day, a day we celebrate the achievement of the vision of our founding father His Highness Sheikh Zayed to unite the seven Emirates. In the Year of Zayed, we are very proud to witness this historic flight formation which resembles the vision set forth by our founding father. Our Emirati carriers flying across the seven Emirates in this formation represents the spirit of our union, and demonstrates the economic progress our nation and aviation sector achieved in less than half a century through connecting over a 100 million travellers annually to 500 destinations globally.”

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia said: “It gives us a great honour to be part of this remarkable formation display dedicated to the Year of Zayed and while celebrating the UAE’s National Day.  This unique flight formation display reflects the unity, leadership and the forward vision of the UAE. We thank all the airlines, Al Fursan and the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority for working together to achieve such a successful and first of its kind flight display that will now be added to the UAE’s pioneering journey in aviation.”

His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the GCAA said: “In this historical formation flight, The GCAA ensured that communication and coordination was carried out between all pertinent authorities and stake holders to ensure that flight details were established and the route flown would avoid all departure and arrival lanes, thereby guaranteeing uninterrupted routine airport operations. This fly past was continuously controlled by Air Traffic Control, tracked by surveillance radar and communicated by two-way radio communication for any advisory and instruction. In addition, the GCAA has further imposed certain requirements for assessment and approval of the entire fly past exercise which includes routing, separation, weather minima, aircraft limitation and trials so that no stone is left unturned.”

Precision planning and co-ordination

While the flawlessly executed aerial formation flight may appear to be a straightforward assignment, the mission was under planning for more than five months due to the complexity of the formation and the number of aircraft involved. With a primary focus on flight safety, the meticulous technical planning and co-ordination involved all four airlines and multiple regulatory stakeholders.

The success of the formation flight was made possible by the collaboration between the pilots and flight operation managers from each airline, the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), UAE Ministry of Defence, air traffic controllers, the Abu Dhabi Department of Transportation and Civil Aviation Authorities from other UAE emirates, amongst others.

All stakeholders worked together to identify suitable locations for the flight formation patterns, taking into account air traffic, areas overflown, route planning, visibility, and potential wind and weather conditions. The entire formation route was protected from any passing traffic within a Temporary Restricted Area controlled by the GCAA. Meetings were held to establish each airline’s position within the formation and precise visual reference points were drawn up so each aircraft could safely join and hold their plotted position. In addition, all pilots went through rigorous flight simulation exercises.

A rehearsal flight was done on November 8, 2018 to ensure that the formation positions worked appropriately with the Al Fursan air display team. The test-run ‘Year of Zayed’ formation also included two helicopters and an Aero L-39 Albatross chase plane from the Latvian based Baltic Bees aerobatic display team to film every detail and aspect of the formation.

The “Year of Zayed” is a tribute to HH Sheikh Zayed’s remarkable legacy which has left a lasting imprint on the UAE.  The inspirational leader created a vision of prosperity, determination and tolerance – attributes that remain strongly embedded in UAE culture and across all UAE aviation organisations.

All photos by the airlines.

Video:

Etihad Airways is looking back at its accomplishments in 2018:

In other news, Etihad Airways will introduce the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on its daily scheduled service from Abu Dhabi to Hong Kong, effective March 31, 2019. The two-class aircraft will replace the Airbus A330-200 aircraft currently operating the route.

The new 787-9 Dreamliner service to Hong Kong will feature the airline’s next-generation Business and Economy cabins, configured with 299 seats – 28 Business Studios and 271 Economy Smart Seats –  a capacity increase of six seats in Business and 31 in Economy in each direction, and an increase in belly-hold cargo capacity of four tonnes.

Timetable

Boeing 787 schedule to Hong Kong effective March 31, 2019

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

Top Copyright Photo (all others by the airline): Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner A6-BLN (msn 39659) ZRH (Andi Hiltl). Image: 938290.

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

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Etihad Airways’ 486-seat A380 will provide customers on the route with new inflight experiences such as The Residence, a luxurious three-room cabin which can accommodate two guests in complete privacy, and nine private First Apartments. The double-decker aircraft also boasts 70 Business Studios and 405 Economy Smart Seats. This includes 80 Economy Space seats with a seat pitch of up to 36 inches.

The UAE and South Korea are major trade partners and the UAE is the largest importer of South Korean goods in the Middle East and Africa and the value of trade between the two countries is valued at approximately US$ 15 billion annually. It is estimated that over 200,000 Korean tourists now visit the country each year.

Flight schedule: Abu Dhabi – Seoul Incheon, effective July 1, 2019*:

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

*First A380 departure from Seoul effective July 3, 2019

Top Copyright Photo (all others by the airline): Etihad Airways Airbus A380-861 A6-APG (msn 198) LHR (Greenwing). Image: 945661.

Etihad aircraft slide show:

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• Chengdu to be served daily with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner from July 1, 2019
• Shanghai to be upgraded to larger 787-10 Dreamliner from July 1, 2019

Once the changes take effect, the airline will fly all 28 weekly services to China’s four main gateways – Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai and Hong Kong – with the next generation Dreamliner aircraft.

Above Copyright Photo: Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner A6-BLU (msn 39675) AMS (Ton Jochems). Image: 945709.

The 787-9 service to Chengdu will feature Etihad Airways’ next-generation Business and Economy cabins, configured with 299 seats – 28 Business Studios and 271 Economy Smart Seats. The upgrade of aircraft will also see an increase in belly-hold cargo capacity of four tonnes.

The 787-10 service to Shanghai will be configured with 336 seats – 32 Business Studios and 304 Economy Smart. Belly-hold cargo capacity will be increased by two and a half tonnes.

Etihad Airways recently celebrated 10 years of direct flights between Abu Dhabi and China, the capital-capital airlink was launched in 2008. Since 2008, the airline has carried over four and a half million passengers between Abu Dhabi and China.

Timetables: Abu Dhabi – China schedules

Note: All departures and arrivals are listed in local time. *Daily operation during summer timetable, three weekly flights during winter timetable.

Note: All departures and arrivals are listed in local time. Shanghai to be upgraded to 787-10 from July 1, 2019. Departure of 1^st 787-10 from Shanghai will be on July 3, 2019.

Note: All departures and arrivals are listed in local time. Beijing upgraded to 787-10 Dreamliner on Jan 1, 2019.

Note: All departures and arrivals are listed in local time. Hong Kong to be served by 787-9 Dreamliner from March 31, 2019. Departure of 1^st 787-9 from Hong Kong will be on April 1, 2019.

In other news, the airline is also reducing its aircraft on order. In a statement, the airline stated it will take delivery of five Airbus A350-1000s and 26 A321neos plus six Boeing 777-9s “over the coming years” (no specific delivery dates).

The carrier stated it will also continue to take delivery of new Boeing 787 Dreamliners, but did specify the number. Etihad has so far received 28 of 71 Dreamliners it has on order.

With these fleet changes, Etihad Airways will also retire its last three remaining Airbus A330-300s in March 2019.

Below Copyright Photo: Etihad Airways Airbus A330-343 A6-AFF (msn 1245) (Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2014) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 927297.

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

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