Etihad Airways has opened its new 798-square metre First and Business Class Lounge at Sydney’s Kingsford Smith International Airport – the airline’s first in Australia. Located in the international terminal’s Pier C, adjacent to Gate 51, the new lounge offers guests a welcoming and relaxing environment. New lounges are planned for Los Angeles, New York (JFK) and Melbourne over the next 12 to 18 months.
ETIHAD REGIONALEtihad Regional has introduced five new routes expanding the airline’s operations out of Zurich, including daily flights to Linz (Austria), Lyon (France) and Verona (Italy). From Zurich, the airline will also operate to Düsseldorf (Germany) twice a week and to Florence (Italy) four times a week. The addition of the five new routes will bring Etihad Regional’s total network to 25 year-round destinations in Europe.
ETIHAD FLIGHT COLLEGEThe airline is establishing the Etihad Flight College, a flight training facility in the UAE for Emirati and international cadet pilots. It is acquiring the fixed wing training division from Al Ain-based Horizon International Flight Academy (Horizon), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mubadala Development Company.
CABIN IN THE CLOUDSUnveiled on May 4 this year, The Residence by Etihad is anticipated to be the world’s most luxurious living space in the air, available on the airline’s A380 aircraft. The Residence accommodates single or double occupancy, features a living room, separate double bedroom and ensuite shower room. Guests in The Residence will also have a personal butler, trained at the Savoy Butler Academy in London.The A380 will feature revolutionary First Apartments, which are fully private suites with a separate reclining lounge seat and full-length bed, as well as a chilled mini bar, personal vanity unit and wardrobe. Etihad Airways has allocated the upper deck of the A380 to its premium cabins.On the B787 Dreamliner, Etihad Airways has designed an enhanced First Suite, adding many new features including a chilled mini-bar. The Business Studio and Economy Smart Seat will feature on both the A380 and the B787. Etihad Airways is introducing the latest Panasonic eX3 entertainment system across both fleets along with noise-cancelling headsets in all cabins. The A380 aircraft will have full mobile and wi-fi service while the B787 will be equipped with wi-fi.The Residence, which is certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for single or double occupancy, offers levels of luxury and total privacy normally found only on private jets. Each Etihad Airways A380 will offer a boutique version of The Residence with different colour palettes, table marquetry and custom carpets. The launch of the First Apartment on the A380 is set to redefine First Class service in airlines. Nine First Apartments will be installed on the upper deck in a 1-1 configuration creating the only single aisle First Class cabin in the industry. Each First Apartment, which has a 64-inch high sliding door, includes a reclining armchair and a full-length ottoman, both upholstered by Poltrona Frau. The ottoman transforms into a separate 80-inch long fully flatbed. The First Apartment has a 74 per cent larger footprint than the airline’s current award-winning First Class Suites. On both the A380 and the B787, Etihad Airways will launch its new Business Studios, which provide 20 per cent more personal space than the airline’s current business class seat. With its privacy, ample storage and surface space, the Business Studio has been designed with the premium business or leisure traveller in mind.