Etihad Airways debuts A350 on Abu...

The UAE’s national carrier operated its inaugural A350-1000 flight to New York on 30 June

Etihad Airways has begun operating its new Airbus aircraft on its Abu Dhabi-New York route.

The aircraft is one of five new Airbus A350s to join Etihad’s fleet this year and from now on, all Etihad flights servicing New York and Chicago O’Hare International Airport will be operated by the A350.

The US destinations join Mumbai and Delhi as routes that are being serviced by the new aircraft.

With a total capacity of 371 passengers, the business class cabin comprises 44 studios with sliding doors that provide privacy to each suite, while economy class is configured with 327 seats in a 3-3-3 arrangement.

The aircraft also offers 45 ‘Economy Space’ seats, which have been enhanced with an additional four inches of legroom

Etihad Airways senior vice-president of Global Sales and Cargo, Martin Drew said: “By introducing the A350, we have almost doubled premium capacity on our New York and Chicago routes to 44 seats in the business cabin, which provides a luxurious experience comparable to first class on other international airlines.”

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The Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-powered Airbus A350 is a fuel-efficient aircraft, with 25% less fuel burn and carbon dioxide emissions than previous-generation twin aisle aircraft.

Formed as a partnership between Etihad, Airbus and Rolls Royce in 2021, the Sustainable50 programme will make use of Etihad’s A350s as flying test beds for new initiatives, procedures and technologies to reduce carbon emissions.

For more information, visit www.etihad.com