Etihad reveals why the A350-1000 is so special for U.S. bound flights

The new A350 lighting system | eTurboNews | eTN
Avatar of Juergen T Steinmetz

Etihad Airways was excited today when the National Airline of the UAE completed its first flight on a an Airbus A350-1000 from AUH to JFK.

Etihad Airways’ new Airbus A350-1000 is the new way to connect the United Arab Emirates with the Unites States of America.

Etihad passengers traveling to the US from Abu Dhabi have access to Etihad’s US pre-clearance, the only United States Customs, and Border Protection facility in the Middle East.

This allows passengers bound for the United States to process all immigration, customs, and agriculture inspections in Abu Dhabi before they board their flight, avoiding immigration and queues on arrival in the US. It’s like arriving on a domestic flight in the U.S.

EY

Following the inaugural commercial flight from Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on 30 June the aircraft, which accommodates 371 passengers, is one of five new Airbus A350s to join Etihad’s fleet this year.

EY

From today, all Etihad flights servicing New York and Chicago O’Hare International Airport will be operated by the A350, joining Mumbai and Delhi routes that began flying in April this year.

“We are proud to bring the Airbus A350 into service in the US. This is an incredible aircraft with highly efficient fuel consumption and CO2 savings, which enables us to support our goals to reduce carbon emissions and deliver an unmatched flight experience for our guests,” said Martin Drew, Senior Vice President of Global Sales, and Cargo, Etihad Airways. “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.”  

Sustainable50

Formed as a partnership between Etihad, Airbus, and Rolls Royce in 2021, the Sustainable50 program will make use of Etihad’s A350s as flying testbeds for new initiatives, procedures, and technologies to reduce carbon emissions. This will build on the learnings derived from Etihad’s similar Greenline program for the Boeing 787 aircraft type.

The Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-powered Airbus A350 is one of the most efficient aircraft types in the world, with 25% less fuel burn and CO2 emissions than previous-generation twin-aisle aircraft. 

Etihad recently established a formal framework with Airbus to collaborate on sustainability across a number of areas, including the promotion and commercialization of sustainable aviation fuel, waste and weight management, and the development of data-driven analysis.

Guest Experience

The aircraft features Etihad’s newest cabin interior, which is inspired by Abu Dhabi and is both more efficient and sustainable in design. Etihad is renowned for high-quality aircraft, and the A350 is filled with thoughtful design details providing exceptional comfort and enhanced privacy.

Etihad’s signature lighting design is inspired by the shadows cast by Abu Dhabi’s palm trees. The cabin lighting emulates natural ambient light and is designed to enhance the guest experience, provide an optimum environment for sleeping and reduce the effects of jetlag. The Airbus A350 also offers the quietest cabin experience for a wide-body aircraft.

Another feature to help reduce light pollution, and therefore jetlag, is the new dark-mode interface on the E-BOX inflight entertainment system. Mobile and Wi-Fi connectivity is also available throughout the aircraft.

Etihad has also thoughtfully created a “Little VIP” experience for its youngest guests. The program offers newly launched Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi-themed, family-friendly amenities for children. The A350 also has a special new feature, offering interactive flight maps kids can explore with the help of some Jurassic-age friends.

Business Class

Etihad Airways new Business offering 1 | eTurboNews | eTN

The elevated Business class is home to 44 Business Studios with sliding doors that provide a high level of privacy to each suite. Every seat faces forward with direct aisle access. The Business class seat, with a width of over 20”, converts into a fully-flat bed of 79” in length, and features ample storage for convenience.

Noise-canceling headphones and an 18.5” TV screen provide a cinematic experience to enjoy Etihad’s extensive inflight entertainment offering. The Business seats cleverly feature a built-in wireless charging dock and Bluetooth headphone pairing.

Business-class guests can choose from a carefully curated à la carte menu, and guests on longer flights can enjoy Etihad’s signature ‘dine anytime’ service.

Economy Class

Etihad Airways new Economy offering 2 | eTurboNews | eTN

Etihad’s spacious Economy cabin is configured with 327 smart seats in a 3-3-3 arrangement, of which 45 ‘Economy Space’ seats have been enhanced with an additional 4 inches of legroom. The Crystal Cabin Award-winning seats were selected after extensive customer trials by Etihad and based on their comfort and sustainability credentials. The seats feature Etihad’s signature supportive headrest, USB charging, and Bluetooth headphone pairing, as well as a 13.3” inch screen to enjoy Etihad’s award-winning inflight entertainment system.

Guests receive blankets and pillows for additional comfort and amenity kits on longer flights, as well as enjoy complimentary dining and beverages served by Etihad’s award-winning cabin crew. 

About the author

Avatar of Juergen T Steinmetz

Juergen T Steinmetz

Juergen Thomas Steinmetz has continuously worked in the travel and tourism industry since he was a teenager in Germany (1977).
He founded eTurboNews in 1999 as the first online newsletter for the global travel tourism industry.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x
Share to...