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. 

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.   

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.

Etihad Airways becomes Major League Soccers’ official airline partner

Major League Soccer (MLS) and Soccer United Marketing, MLS’ commercial arm, today announced a multi-year partnership deal with Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates.

Within the new agreement, Etihad Airways becomes the official airline partner of MLS in the United States. It is the Abu Dhabi-based airline’s first multi-year sports sponsorship in the territory and one that strengthens its expanding ties to the USA.

The agreement will see the Etihad Airways logo and its messages beamed across LED pitch-side advertising during nationally televised MLS matches, as well as across national broadcast partners and MLS Digital Properties, the leading online soccer platform in North America.

Etihad Airways currently operates daily flights from Abu Dhabi to Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C. In June 2014 it will launch daily flights to Los Angeles and in December it will start a three flights-a-week service to Dallas-Fort Worth.

Middle Eastern Tie Ups

In the wake of the possible One World alliance joining of five-star airline Qatar Airways, its Middle Eastern rival Etihad Airways has also shaken up the airline industry by announcing a multiple stage codeshare with Air France-KLM. Just weeks ago Emirates Airline announced that it had formed an agreement with Australian airline Qantas in a move that sees Qantas flights stopover in Dubai rather than Singapore in Asia.

The Airbus A380 in Abu Dhabi

The year 2007 saw the introduction of the first double decker aircraft from Airbus, the Airbus A380. Singapore Airlines, the launch airline for the aircraft ordered 19 A380s and has already had 18 delivered.

These double decker aircraft have brought about a range of innovations in air travel including on-board showers and salons. The ninth airline, Thai Airways has now received its first A380 with British Airways and Qatar Airways receiving their first aircraft next year. By 2014, the first A380 will be in use from Abu Dhabi 

Young Airline Growing Strong

Based in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates is a relatively young airline with a lot to prove. Etihad Airways has just seen its 8^th birthday, starting relatively late in the game compared to other airlines like Emirates, Gulf Air and Qatar Airways.

Flying to many of the world’s incredible destinations, Etihad offers flights to Abu Dhabi, it’s hub in the Middle East to all over the world including Bangkok, Sydney, London and starting next year, Sao