Etihad has been showcasing a suite of new products and enhancements at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai this week, with the airline revealing the new interior for its latest addition of Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
So what’s new? Starting up the front, Etihad’s revamped Business cabin features a customised version of the current stylish interior, with the Abu Dhabi-based carrier being the first airline in the world to introduce the Elements seat on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Each of the 32 Business seats has direct aisle access with the cabin designed in a 1-2-1 configuration, whether travelling individually or with companions.
The seats recline to a fully lie-flat-bed 78” (198.2 cms) in length and feature a 17.3” 4K TV screen, Bluetooth headphone pairing, multiple charging ports and wireless charging, as well as plenty of storage.
The new seats also have added privacy thanks to a suite door, with the height of the suite further increased from the A350’s debut model, offering even greater privacy for guests.
“Etihad’s new 787 Dreamliner cabin interior showcases further enhancements to our award-winning and industry-renowned cabins. Our new Business class takes the guest experience to new heights with the second evolution of the Business Studio, which was launched on the Airbus A350-1000 last year,” said Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways.
Elevating Economy
In Economy, the seats have been given a comfort upgrade and an increased feeling of space by the smart design and adjustments, including a slimmer profile armrest. Travellers will also be able to enjoy an extensive range of in-flight E-BOX entertainment on the 13.3” 4K touch-screen monitor, with a USB charging port.
The new Economy dining service is not only stylish but removes single-use plastic entirely. The dining equipment has been designed to provide a quality experience for Etihad’s guests while being functional for the crew as well as reducing the impact of the operation on the environment.
Experience upgrades
The new 787 Dreamliner provides the latest in inflight entertainment technology from Safran with new features, including Rave Ultra 4K monitors, Bluetooth headphone pairing and the option to pair personal phones and tablets to the screen and use it as a remote.
The aircraft is also fitted with a new connectivity solution from Viasat using Ka-band technology which the airline says offers high-speed Wi-Fi with streaming capabilities on board as well as Live TV, including news and sports, which the airline currently offers.
Never miss a moment with free Wi-Fly
In a sweep of product enhancements that arrived on board earlier year, Etihad introduced new Wi-Fly packages on its wide-body fleet, with Chat and Surf packages offering unlimited data.
Etihad loyalty Guest members, including those who enrol instantly just before the flight, are rewarded with free ‘Chat’ packages while they fly.
The free Chat packages provide access to popular messaging apps such as What’s App, WeChat, Messenger, and more, with paid Surf packages available offering unlimited data for the full flight duration.
Armani/Casa and Etihad unite
Etihad’s unique partnership with Armani/Casa has now fully rolled out across the airline’s Business class cabins. The range features bespoke dining ware and soft furnishings designed in collaboration with the celebrated international designer brand Armani/Casa.
Neves continues: “We remain fully committed to providing industry-leading experiences for our guests, and we’re proud to showcase this here at the Arabian Travel Market.
“This year is about growth for Etihad – as well as enhancing our guest experience and adding aircraft to our fleet; we’ve announced new routes for our network, including Kolkata last month, Lisbon, Malaga and Mykonos this European summer and Copenhagen and Dusseldorf in the fourth quarter.”
For more, head to www.etihad.com/en-au/