Etihad Airways Swiss flights become all Boeing 787 Dreamliner Services
Etihad Airways’ flights to and from Switzerland will become an all-boeing 787 Dreamliner operation with the aircraft being deployed on the Abu Dhabi – Geneva route, effective March 25th 2018.
The Dreamliner flights to Geneva will complement the airline’s existing 787 Dreamliner scheduled services connecting Abu Dhabi and Zurich, becoming the fifth European city to be served by the carrier’s rapidly growing fleet of next generation aircraft.
Etihad Airways currently operates daily flights between the UAE’S capital city of Abu Dhabi and both Geneva and Zurich.
Introduction of the 787 Dreamliner will also see a scheduling change that will continue to provide attractive timings for customers travelling to and from Geneva. Etihad Airways will be the only airline operating out of the UAE to offer an early morning arrival into Geneva, and the revised timings will also improve connectivity to a wider network of destinations across Asia and the Indian Subcontinent.
Etihad Airways has a fleet of 18 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners operating from Abu Dhabi to 17 destinations worldwide: Amman, Amsterdam, Beijing, Beirut, Brisbane, Düsseldorf, Madrid, Melbourne, Nagoya, Perth, Riyadh, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, Washington and Zurich.
Etihad Airways Chief Executive Officer Peter Baumgartner said: “With another of Etihad Airways’ popular European destinations joining our 787 Dreamliner network, we are giving more guests the opportunity to experience our next generation aircraft.”
“The Geneva services cater to business and leisure travellers in Abu Dhabi, Switzerland’s second largest city, and offer connections over our hub to and from many destinations across our global network. The Dreamliner is fast becoming our flagship long-haul aircraft and as more join the fleet, we will continue to look at upgrading existing routes offering ground-breaking cabin interiors that have set a benchmark for high service levels in the region and across the world.”
Etihad Airways’ three-class Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners include eight First Suites, 28 Business Studios and 199 Economy Smart Seats, offering superior levels of comfort, entertainment and in-flight connectivity. On-board décor and lighting have been inspired by contemporary Arabian design, including the spectacular dome of the newlyopened Louvre Abu Dhabi, complementing the signature ‘Facets of Abu Dhabi’ identity introduced by the airline during its livery relaunch in 2014. Etihad Airways has pending deliveries of 53 Dreamliners.
The First Suites are private living spaces featuring a Poltrona Frau leather-upholstered seat that converts to a fully flat six-foot eightinch bed. The centre suites can be opened up to create a double bed for guests who are travelling together. A unique curved aisle offers more personal space inside each suite. The First Suite also has a 24-inch LCD TV monitor, a personal wardrobe and a chilled refreshments cabinet. A professional onboard chef, exclusive to First Class, offers guests a bespoke, made-to-order dining experience with dishes prepared inflight from a larder of fresh produce.
The Business Studios offer direct aisle access, a fully-flat bed of up to 80.5-inches in length, and an increase of 20 percent in personal space. Upholstered in fine Poltrona Frau leather, the Business Studio is equipped with an in-seat massage and pneumatic cushion control system which enables guests to adjust the firmness and comfort of their seat. Each Business Studio has an 18-inch personal touch-screen TV with noisecancelling headsets. Guests can also enjoy mobile connectivity, onboard Wi-fi and seven satellite channels of live TV.
Economy Smart Seats provide enhanced comfort with a unique ‘fixed wing’ headrest, adjustable lumbar support, a seat width of approximately 19 inches and an 11.1-inch personal TV monitor on each seat. The aircraft has been designed with enhancements including humidity controls while air pressure levels are set to ensure a smoother flight, allowing guests to arrive feeling fresher.
The airline’s Boeing 787 fleet is equipped with the latest inflight personal entertainment system featuring over 750 hours of movies and programmes, as well as hundreds of music choices and a selection of games for both adults and children.