I just lately wrote about how Etihad Airways is within the strategy of taking supply of recent Boeing 787-9s, which characteristic recent interiors. The airline has now up to date its schedule to mirror the primary routes which might be anticipated to get these new plane.
Fundamentals of Etihad’s new Boeing 787-9s
Etihad has been properly enhancing its product lately, and because the newest instance of that, the airline is introducing a brand new passenger expertise on newly delivered Boeing 787-9s. Within the coming weeks, the airline ought to be placing three of those plane into service.
What makes them particular?
- These planes may have the Collins Aerospace Components seat in enterprise class, which is a reverse herringbone seat with a door; this seat debuted on Starlux’s A350-900s
- These planes characteristic Viasat Wi-Fi, so you’ll be able to anticipate quicker web than ever earlier than on Etihad
- These planes characteristic vastly improved tech, together with issues like bluetooth audio, and way more
Whereas Etihad’s Airbus A350-1000s provide an outstanding passenger expertise, these Boeing 787-9s ought to be even higher.
Routes for Etihad’s new Boeing 787-9s
Whereas I haven’t seen an official announcement, Etihad has up to date its seat maps to mirror which flights will characteristic the service’s new cabins. Let me emphasize that this stays topic to vary, so even in the event you e book a flight displaying the right seat map, it’s nonetheless doable there might be a schedule change.
For context, beneath is what the seat map appears like for the reconfigured 787-9s. As you’ll be able to inform, the configuration is similar in each row, in contrast to Etihad’s “basic” 787s, which have a staggered configuration.
With that in thoughts, the next routes are at the moment anticipated to get the brand new cabins on choose frequencies:
- Beginning March 2, 2024, Etihad has scheduled its new 787-9s to fly between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Mumbai (BOM) on the EY205/206 frequencies on choose days
- Beginning March 4, 2024, Etihad has scheduled its new 787-9s to fly between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Munich (MUC) on the EY5/6 frequencies on choose days
- Beginning April 22, 2024, Etihad has scheduled its new 787-9s to fly between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Washington (IAD) on the EY130/131 frequencies on choose days
It’s superior to see that Etihad has plans to supply its new product on a path to the USA. The date for that service switchover isn’t any coincidence, as April 22 might be a giant day for the service’s service to North America:
- As of April 22, Etihad will begin flying the A380 on one of many two day by day frequencies to New York
- As of April 22, Etihad will begin flying the 787-9 with first-class on one of many two day by day frequencies to New York, changing a 787-9 with out first-class; this plane is being faraway from the Washington route
- As of April 22, Etihad will exchange the 787-9 with first-class on the Washington route with the 787-9 with the brand new cabins
So whereas first-class was initially a loss for flyers in Washington, everybody not in first-class can look ahead to a superior expertise, which is nice.
Backside line
Etihad will shortly be flying newly delivered Boeing 787-9s, that includes new interiors. These plane might be getting into service within the coming weeks, initially flying to Mumbai, Munich, and Washington. For those who’re considering of reserving a visit on Etihad, undoubtedly think about reserving certainly one of these flights, although concentrate on the opportunity of an plane swap.
What do you make of Etihad’s preliminary routes for the brand new Boeing 787-9s?
