Etihad Airways will launch its A380 service to New York JFK a week earlier than previously planned.
The superjumbo, which features the Gulf carrier's three-room The Residence suite, will now be rostered on to flights EY103/102, one of two daily Etihad services between Abu Dhabi and JFK on November 23.
It had originally been due to join the route on December 1 (see news, March 4).
Outbound flight EY103 departs Abu Dhabi at 0320 and arrives in New York at 0910, while return flight EY102 leaves New York at 1430 and lands in Abu Dhabi at 1215 the next day.
Etihad's A380 can accommodate 498 passengers, with 417 in economy, 70 in business class, nine in first and up to two in the aforementioned The Residence apartment.
Flights EY100/101 between Abu Dhabi and New York JFK are operated by a B777-300ER.
Etihad CEO James Hogan said: "The overwhelmingly positive response we have received to our A380 service on our Abu Dhabi to London and Sydney routes, as well as for our upcoming launch to New York has exceeded our expectations.
"With the early introduction of our A380 service into New York, we look forward to further redefining what world-class air travel can be for our guests travelling on Etihad Airways across all classes of service."
Graham Smith
