It was a day of celebration for Etihad Airways as it witnessed the remarkable return of its Airbus A380 to commercial flight operations. The Airbus took off on a special inaugural flight from Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow on July 25, 2023. This event marked the comeback of the first among Etihad’s four Airbus A380s as it resumed operations on the much-frequented Abu Dhabi-London Heathrow route.
High Spirits and the Inaugural Flight
With high spirits and much excitement, the inaugural flight took off from Abu Dhabi at 2:05 AM and touched down at London Heathrow at 6:45 AM local time. A meeting of high-ranking executives from Etihad, Abu Dhabi Airport, and the Department of Culture and Tourism took place before takeoff, commemorating the return of the impressive aircraft. As a special touch, passengers on board received A380-themed souvenirs to mark the occasion.
Antonoaldo Neves, the Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, expressed their thrill, saying, “We’re excited to once again welcome guests onboard Etihad’s A380s and step into a truly remarkable experience. The aircraft adds much needed capacity connecting Abu Dhabi with London Heathrow and allows us to build our network and increase frequencies across the network. With a surge in demand for travel over the summer, the return of our much-loved A380 comes at the perfect time.”
Comfort and Luxury
Etihad’s A380 is a world of comfort and luxury. Passengers traveling in Economy receive a warm welcome in a dedicated area. The Economy cabin is well-equipped with 68 Economy Space seats, offering an additional 4 inches of legroom, and 337 Economy Smart seats with Etihad’s signature fixed-wing headrest and large pillows for a comfortable flight.
Stepping into the upper deck, 70 Business Studios® offer privacy and a serene atmosphere. A visit to The Lobby, a serviced lounge and bar area, awaits the guests nestled between the First and Business cabins. Thanks to Etihad’s unique partnership with Armani/Casa, guests enjoy an elevated Business experience, complete with ceramics, glassware, cutlery, serving ware, premium textiles, and a memory foam mattress.
First Apartments and The Residence
First-class passengers can opt for one of nine First Apartments. Each Apartment boasts a private living space with exquisite amenities and designer tableware, a wide leather lounge chair, and an ottoman that converts into an 80″ lie-flat bed. Guests can freshen up in personal vanity units and take advantage of the first-class shower room.
But the cherry on top is The Residence. The world’s only three-room suite in the sky offers guests service and hospitality from a dedicated team of Etihad cabin crew. Bookable for up to two guests, The Residence houses a private living room, bedroom, and ensuite bathroom. Indulgent options range from gourmet cuisine to lighter refreshments, served on designer tableware in the private living room or breakfast in bed.
Etihad’s A380 will operate on the Abu Dhabi – London route from July 25 and on EY19 and EY20 from August 1. This will reconnect people between the UK, the UAE, and across the Etihad network.
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