Etihad has resumed its A380 service from Abu Dhabi to New York JFK, with the superjumbo aircraft landing in the Big Apple on 22 April.
Pilots on flight EY1 were seen waving the US and UAE flags from the cockpit when welcomed at the stand in New York yesterday.
The double-decker will operate on one of the two daily Etihad flights to New York, with the other flight operated by a Boeing 787-9 configured with first, business and economy cabins.
The A380s are configured with 337 Economy Smart seats, 68 Economy Space seats, 70 Business Studios, nine First Apartments and The Residence – a two-guest suite featuring a private living room, bedroom and ensuite bathroom.
This comes after Etihad reintroduced its A380 aircraft on the Abu Dhabi-London Heathrow route in July 2023, and subsequently increased capacity on the route in November.
Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, said:
“We want to ensure guests arrive in the Big Apple feeling refreshed and at ease. This commitment is crucial for all our travellers, not least our corporate clients who rely on us for business travel, and we have timed our A380 services, so customers arrive in New York or Abu Dhabi in time to make good use of the business day, or for their onward connections.
“Introducing the A380 to the popular New York route aligns with our strategy to meet increasing customer demand and expand our network.”
Earlier this month the airline also launched flights from Abu Dhabi to Boston, making the East Coast city its fourth destination in the US – Etihad already flies to Chicago, New York, and Washington.
