Etihad is giving two of its routes an aircraft upgrade this Christmas with its services to Kuala Lumpur and Brussels both set to be flown by its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
The Malaysian capital will be the first of the two cities to see the 787, with services to the city being taken over by the aircraft from December 20 this year. Travellers flying between Abu Dhabi and Brussels will have to wait a few extra weeks until January 3 before they can experience the Dreamliner on the route.
“Kuala Lumpur and Brussels are two very important destinations on the Etihad network, popular with both business and leisure customers and we are delighted to be introducing the 787-9 Dreamliner on these routes,” said Robin Kamark, Etihad’s chief commercial officer.
Schedules for the two services are as follows:
Abu Dhabi-Kuala Lumpur
| Flight No. | From | To | Departs | Arrives | Days |
| EY418 | Abu Dhabi (AUH) | Kuala Lumpur (KUL) | 2230 | 1000+1 | Daily |
| EY411 | Kuala Lumpur (KUL) | Abu Dhabi (AUH) | 1915 | 2220 | Daily |
Abu Dhabi-Brussels
| Flight No. | From | To | Departs | Arrives | Days |
| EY57 | Abu Dhabi (AUH) | Brussels (BRU) | 0250 | 0720 | Daily |
| EY58 | Brussels (BRU) | Abu Dhabi (AUH) | 1005 | 1935 | Daily |
So what does this mean for travellers?
Etihad currently has 21 Dreamliners in its fleet, which it configures in two different layouts, one of which has three classes and the other just two.
So first, the bad news – the aircraft taking over both these routes are the two-class variant, meaning there won’t be a first class seating option.
The aircraft instead offers 28 of its fully flat, direct aisle access Business Studios and 271 Economy Smart seats.
The good news is that the Dreamliner is a newer aircraft than the B777-300ER and the Airbus A330-200 that currently fly Etihad’s Kuala Lumpur and Brussels routes respectively, and is popular among travellers for its ability to offer a more comfortable passenger experience.
And as Kamark added: “Our customers can expect the quietest cabins and our latest in-flight products and technology, on one of the world’s most technologically advanced and fuel-efficient aircraft.”
Business class passengers can also expect service from on-board food and beverage managers.
Kuala Lumpur and Brussels aren’t the only services getting an aircraft upgauge. Starting next month, Etihad will also begin flying its Dreamliner on flights to Manchester.
