UAE’s Etihad Airways has confirmed that it will start flying its A380 superjumbo to New York JFK from Abu Dhabi starting 22 April 2024.
The double-decker will operate on one of the two daily Etihad flights to New York.
The other daily flight will be operated by a 787-9 featuring first, business and economy cabins.
The US route becomes the second destination after London on which the airline has deployed its A380 ever since it reintroduced the aircraft into its fleet this year. The airline is reintroducing a total of four A380s into its fleet.
The A380 will feature the carrier’s economy and Business Studio seats, as well as First Apartments which includes lie-flat beds. The Residence meanwhile is a “three-room suite” that can accommodate up to two guests and features a private living room, bedroom, and ensuite bathroom with a shower.
“We’re thrilled to start flying our remarkable A380 across the Atlantic, and we know our guests love the on-board experience. Whether they are flying in economy, business, first or the three-room suite in the sky, The Residence, they will enjoy elevated levels of service from our dedicated crew, and ensure they arrive in the city that never sleeps refreshed and relaxed,” said Antonoaldo Neves, chief executive officer of Etihad Airways.
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“Putting the A380 on the popular New York route makes sense as we satisfy customer demand for more capacity, further growing our expanding network. The fact that our new route to Boston, Etihad’s fourth US gateway, will open on 31 March, three weeks before our A380 starts flying to New York, underlines our ambitious growth plans,” added Neves.
Apart from Boston and New York, the carrier’s other two destinations in the US are Chicago and Washington. The upcoming service to Boston will be operated on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, using its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
This year, the carrier took possession of a brand-new 787-10 Dreamliner, one of four new Dreamliners that will be a part of its fleet before the end of 2023.
(Image: Supplied by Etihad Airways)
