The A380 features The Residence by Etihad, the airline’s private three-room suite in the sky, a first in commercial aviation.
The inaugural Abu Dhabi-Sydney A380 flight – EY454 – departed Abu Dhabi International Airport at 10pm Sunday night and touched down at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport at 5.55pm on Monday. The aircraft, in the airline’s new ‘Facets of Abu Dhabi’ livery, was welcomed to Sydney by a traditional water cannon salute.
The A380 will now operate one of the airline’s two daily services between Sydney and Abu Dhabi. The airline’s additional four weekly Airbus A340-600 flights will be upgraded to a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “In 2014, we achieved an 88 per cent seat load factor on our Sydney route. The A380 will provide us with much-needed additional capacity, particularly in business class, where we consistently enjoy high levels of demand for our services.”
Sydney Airport Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Kerrie Mather, said, “Sydney Airport is thrilled to be the first and only airport in Australia – and one of only two destinations in the world – to welcome Etihad’s new flagship A380 service … The upgrade will bolster Sydney Airport’s status as the leading airport globally for next-generation aircraft and boost tourism to Sydney and NSW by increasing seat capacity.”
Etihad Airways’ new A380 cabins offer an unprecedented level of luxury, space and privacy in the most highly customised commercial cabin interior ever.
The Residence by Etihad features a living room, separate ensuite shower room, double bedroom, and a dedicated Savoy-trained Butler. It features a large 32” LCD monitor in the living room and a separate 24” version in bedroom. Measuring 125 square feet in total, The Residence by Etihad is located on the forward upper deck of the A380 and is available for single or double occupancy.
The nine First Apartments in First Class are private living spaces featuring a reclining lounge chair and an ottoman, upholstered in Poltrona Frau leather, which opens up to become a separate 80.5 inch long fully flat bed. Each First Apartment offers a 74 per cent increase in space over the airline’s current award-winning First Class Suites, a 24” LCD TV monitor and personal vanity unit. A fully equipped shower room is available for the exclusive use of First Class guests.
Seventy Business Studios are located on the upper deck of the A380, all offering direct aisle access, a fully-flat bed of up to 80.5 inches long, and an increase of 20 per cent in personal space.
The Lobby (pictured) is a luxurious lounge located between the First Class and Business Class cabins, features two comfortable leather sofas and a staffed bar serving a selection of snacks and refreshments.
Etihad Airways has introduced the latest Panasonic eX3 entertainment system on its A380 fleet, providing more than 750 hours of on-demand entertainment, improved gaming, and high definition screens across all cabins. The A380 has full mobile and Wi-Fi service, with USB and power points at every seat.
Etihad Airways’ partner airline, Virgin Australia, will codeshare on the new A380 services.
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