Monday, December 29, 2014

Gino Bertuccio: The first to fly the world’s first – and only – three-room suite in the sky

Forget first class. There’s a new class of travel on the horizon – The Residence by Etihad™ and Miami-based businessman was the first to try it.  


The acclaimed aviation enthusiast was the first person ever to experience the world’s only private multi-room cabin on a commercial passenger aircraft.

Gino Bertuccio was the lucky person who became the first to experience the game-changing, three-room suite on board Etihad Airways’ new A380 aircraft,

The Residence, which features an exclusive three-room private cabin, including a Living Room, Double Bedroom and Ensuite Shower Room, is a ground-breaking concept unique to Etihad Airways brand-new fleet of Airbus A380 aircraft.

Well before the inaugural flight from Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on 27 December, 2014, a dedicated Concierge team ensured all aspects of Mr. Bertuccio’s experience were catered to, with the utmost personal attention, dedication and care. Mr. Bertuccio also had a  dedicated Savoy Academy-trained butler on call throughout the duration of his flight – all part of the unique experience for guests who book The Residence.

Mr. Bertuccio, who booked the inaugural flight on etihad.com, has been passionate about flying since a very young age. A true connoisseur with deep expertise and knowledge of air travel, Mr. Bertuccio flew on his first inaugural 25 years ago and has since travelled on 22 inaugural and final flights in premium class cabins.


To experience the penultimate in commercial air travel, book your flightsto London from Abu Dhabi with Etihad Airways. 

Friday, December 19, 2014

Etihad Airways brings momentous year to a close with the arrival of its flagship aircraf

The world’s media gathered today to witness a moment in aviation history: the welcoming of Etihad Airways’ Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in Abu Dhabi.


Etihad Airways new B787 Dreamliner.

The doors to the airline’s two new flagship aircraft – in the distinctive new ‘Facets of Abu Dhabi’ livery – were opened for the first time to reveal the new cabin interiors, which include the ultra-luxurious Residence by Etihad™, the only three-room suite in the sky.

In addition to the media event at Abu Dhabi airport, Etihad Airways is also hosting an event for travel industry partners and one for the airline’s staff today, ensuring that by the end of the day more than 1,500 people will have toured the two new aircraft.

Etihad Airways also unveiled a new cabin crew uniform at a spectacular catwalk fashion show. It’s the first major uniform re-launch since the airline’s formation in 2003 and incorporates the same colours used for the cabin interior and new aircraft livery.

The fashion show saw 22 Etihad Airways cabin crew showcasing the new uniform which has been designed by Italian couturier, Ettore Bilotta.

The new uniform perfectly combines elegance, comfort and practicality and the colours are derived from the new brand identity.

A warm chocolate brown has been used as the base colour for the different uniform variations. A deep purple colour is added for cabin crew and lounge staff, and a burnt orange accent colour for ground crews and Special Services personnel.

Following today’s events in Abu Dhabi, the A380 and Boeing 787 aircraft will continue test operations before starting commercial flights. The A380 will operate daily to London Heathrow from 27 December and the 787 to Dusseldorf from 1 February 2015.

The entry into commercial service of the A380 will see the introduction of The Residence by Etihad™, a new cabin that has captured the imagination of the air travel industry since it was unveiled in May 2014.

The Residence by Etihad™ features a living room, separate ensuite shower room, and bedroom, and as another first in the airline industry, a dedicated Butler.

Measuring 125 square feet in total, The Residence by Etihad™ is located on the forward upper deck of the A380 and is for single or double occupancy.

The A380 is also the only Etihad Airways aircraft to offer the First Apartment which is a complete living space with a reclining lounge chair and an ottoman, which opens up to become a separate 80.5 inch long fully-flat bed.

The First Suite on the Etihad Airways B787 offers guests an enhanced suite with chilled mini-bar, complete privacy and centre seats which can be joined to create a double bed.

A total of 70 Business Studios are located on the upper deck of the A380, and the B787 has 28 Business Studios, all offering aisle access and a fully flat bed of up to 80.5 inches long.

The Economy Smart Seat also debuts on the A380 and Boeing 787 and has enhanced comfort with the unique ‘fixed wing’ headrest on each seat.

Etihad Airways will take delivery of four A380s and three Boeing 787-9s in 2015.   


Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Win a million Etihad Guest Miles


Win a million Etihad Guest Miles when you book your next holiday with Etihad Holidays

Book your next holiday with Etihad Holidays* and you’ll be automatically entered in to a raffle for a chance to win 1,000,000 Etihad Guest miles.

You can use your miles to buy holiday packages, flights and flight upgrades or choose to buy from thousands of products from the Etihad Guest Reward Shop.

You can even turn your miles in to cash to spend at over 30 million outlets worldwide with PointsPay. Simply book any holiday package between September 1 and October 18, 2014 and quote your Etihad Guest membership number. If you’re not already a member, not to worry – you can subscribe for an Etihad Guest membership in a matter of minutes.

*Etihad Holidays bookings based on flights from Abu Dhabi. Go online for full terms and conditions.

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Etihad Cargo announces freighter operations to Hanoi

Etihad Cargo, the freight division of UAE flag carrier Etihad Airways, has started freighter flights to Hanoi’s Nội Bài International Airport, from its hub in Abu Dhabi.

Situated along the Red River delta, Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, the country’s second biggest city, a major trading centre, and also one of the fastest growing cities in the world. 

The dedicated cargo service will operate every Thursday and Sunday using an Airbus A330-200F freighter, with a capacity of 60 metric tonnes.

Flights en route to Hanoi will stop briefly in Mumbai, while the return service is direct to Abu Dhabi.


Etihad Cargo expects the new service to carry raw materials, consumer goods and perishables to Hanoi, with large quantities of electronics and textiles destined for the Gulf region, Europe and Africa loaded for the return flight.

Hanoi flight schedule

Flight No.
Origin
Departs
Destination
Arrives
Frequency
Aircraft
EY981
Abu Dhabi (AUH)
09:45
Mumbai (BOM)
14:30
Thurs, Sun
A330F
EY985
Mumbai (BOM)
16:30
Hanoi (HAN)
22:30
Thus, Sun
A330F
EY986
Hanoi (HAN)
00:00
Abu Dhabi (AUH)
03:30+1
Thurs, Sun
A330F

Note: All in (Abu Dhabi) local time.

Etihad Cargo offers services to 108 destinations internationally, operating a fleet of ten freighters, consisting of four Airbus A330-200F, three Boeing B777F, and three Boeing 747F.

Friday, July 4, 2014

Etihad Airways increases flights to and from India

With a major service upgrade to Kochi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kozhikode and Hyderabad, Etihad Airways offers travellers more connections between India and the rest of the world, than ever before.

Flights to Bangalore, Chennai and Kozhikode will be double-daily, and Hyderabad from 1 October. Double-daily frequencies were also introduced to Kochi route last month, as well as Mumbai and New Delhi in November 2013, supporting a long-term development plan in India.

The airline will utilise new Airbus A320s, scheduled for delivery this year, to accommodate much of the increased frequencies. Larger wide-body aircraft were also introduced on selected routes in November 2013, with a three-class A340 on overnight Mumbai flights, marking the debut of Etihad Airways’ First Class product on the route, and A330s on overnight Delhi flights.

In addition to the seven existing or planned double-daily services, Etihad Airways operates daily flights to Ahmedabad, Trivandrum and most recently, Jaipur, where flights commenced in April 2014.

Summer 2014 schedules effective from 1 July:

Flight Number
Origin
Departs
Destination
Arrives
Aircraft
Operation
EY 0280
Abu Dhabi
21:35
Kochi
03:10 +1
A321
Existing
EY 0281
Kochi
04:25
Abu Dhabi
06:55
A321
Existing
EY 0282
Abu Dhabi
15:40
Kochi
21:15
A321
New
EY 0283
Kochi
22:20
Abu Dhabi
00:50 +1
A321
New










Flight Number
Origin
Departs
Destination
Arrives
Aircraft
Operation
EY 0286
Abu Dhabi
21:50
Bangalore
03:55 +1
A320
Existing
EY 0287
Bangalore
04:45
Abu Dhabi
07:00
A320
Existing
EY 0284
Abu Dhabi
15:45
Bangalore
21:15
A320
New
EY 0285
Bangalore
22:10
Abu Dhabi
00:25 +1
A320
New









Flight Number
Origin
Departs
Destination
Arrives
Aircraft
Operation
EY 0268
Abu Dhabi
21:50
Chennai
04:00 +1
A320
Existing
EY 0269
Chennai
04:45
Abu Dhabi
07:30
A320
Existing
EY 0270
Abu Dhabi
15:30
Chennai
21:20
A320
New
EY 0271
Chennai
22:10
Abu Dhabi
00:55 +1
A320
New










Flight Number
Origin
Departs
Destination
Arrives
Aircraft
Operation
EY 0250
Abu Dhabi
22:05
Kozhikode
03:45
A320
Existing
EY 0251
Kozhikode
04:45
Abu Dhabi
07:10
A320
Existing
EY 0254
Abu Dhabi
02:00
Kozhikode
07:40
A320
New
EY 0257
Kozhikode
08:45
Abu Dhabi
11:10
A320
New








Flight Number
Origin
Departs
Destination
Arrives
Aircraft
Operation
EY 0274
Abu Dhabi
21:45
Hyderabad
03:25 +1
A330
Existing
EY 0275
Hyderabad
04:45
Abu Dhabi
07:10
A330
Existing
EY 0276*
Abu Dhabi
15:45
Hyderabad
21:00
A320
New
EY 0277*
Hyderabad
22:00
Abu Dhabi
00:20 +1
A320
New











*Flights EY 0276 and EY 0277 will commence from 1 October.