Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, announced it will take delivery of a new aircraft on May 30 2005, the first step in the transition to its new fleet of wide bodies which will start to arrive from September 2005. The first flight will be taking off from Abu Dhabi on June 01 to Frankfurt, Etihad’s latest new destination, after which it will operate on all Etihad routes providing guests with the opportunity to experience the aircraft.
The brand new Airbus 330-220 offers a tempting foretaste of the new Etihad in-cabin product which will be launched to the world in late 2005. Diamond Zone’s twelve luxury sleeper seats offer a full 180 º recline, in additional to a personal space of over three meters. The new Pearl Zone features a virtual flat sleeper seat and a higher level of comfort and style than many other products. Coral Zone guests will also enjoy between 32” and 36” of leg room.
The new aircraft is the first Airbus wide body to feature the revolutionary 4000i in-flight entertainment system which will be a feature of all new Etihad aircraft, offering audio and video on demand. Seats in all zones are equipped with high resolution LCD / DVD quality screens which are the equal of the very best home video systems available today and designed to be the clearest in the air.
Another new feature which adds to the welcoming feel is a state-of-the-art mood lighting system, specifically designed to offer guests a constantly changing atmosphere to match the time of day and duration of their journey. Proven medical research has shown that mood lighting can considerably reduce the stress levels normally associated with long-haul air ravel. Etihad is paying special attention to the well being of guests on all of its new aircraft.
“This new aircraft gives the world a clear indication of the direction we are taking at Etihad, and underlines our continuous growth and development. Although today’s aircraft is not to the final specification, the new features are a clear demonstration of how we have taken our guest feedback very seriously since we launched in November 2003”, said H.E. Dr. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saif Al Nahyan, Chairman of Civil Aviation Department in Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Etihad Airways, who has taken an intense personal interest in the new fleet’s specification, ensuring that the best of UAE hospitality is matched to the ever-changing demands of 21st Century world travelers.
Etihad Airways, although a new arrival, now flies to 17 destinations in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. The growing network now serves Amman, Bahrain, Bangkok, Beirut, Cairo, Colombo, Damascus, Dammam, Geneva, Frankfurt, Karachi, London (Heathrow), London (Gatwick), Mumbai, Munich, New Delhi and Riyadh.
In addition to Etihad’s rapidly expanding international routes, the airline has also created Etihad Holidays in record time. Launched in May 2004, Etihad Holidays offers an array of over 170 hotels in more than 35 exciting holiday destinations in 14 countries – from vibrant bustling cities and picturesque, romantic beach resorts to cultural breaks and world renowned hotels.
Etihad’s focus is on doing things differently – reinventing the way an airline works, with the emphasis very much on creating new standards in hospitality. Etihad refers to passengers as ‘guests’ and has three ‘guest zones’ – Diamond, Pearl and Coral - rather than classes. Each zone provides a premium service, with quality and undivided attention emphasized.
