Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, and Boeing celebrated the roll out of the airline’s first 787-9 Dreamliner at an event in Seattle, US.

The airplane, which was unveiled at Hamburg, Germany, is painted in the airline's new 'Facets of Abu Dhabi' livery with colours reminiscent of the desert landscape, inspired by the culture, Islamic design and architecture motifs of the UAE.

James Hogan, president and chief executive officer of Etihad Airways Aviation Group, said the airline was proud to be one of the world’s largest customers for the B787 Dreamliner.

“We have firm orders for more than 100 Boeing wide-body aircraft which include 41 787-9s and 30 787-10s,” Hogan said.

“Our new fleet of B787s will set customer service expectations for the airline industry, delivering the highest levels of comfort and choice across all classes of service,” he said.

The airline’s first Boeing 787-9 will be delivered in December, and more than 40 international routes have been identified for future operation by the airline’s Dreamliners. The aircraft will initially operate between Abu Dhabi in the UAE and Düsseldorf in Germany and between Abu Dhabi and Doha, Qatar. Services to Brisbane (Australia), Mumbai (India), Moscow (Russia) and Washington D.C. (US) will follow in the first half of 2015.

The new First Suite on the B787 will offer guests a private sanctuary with many new features, including a chilled mini-bar and five-star cuisine prepared on board by world-class chefs. The new Business Studio offers larger seats, all of which have direct aisle access and convert to a fully flat, adjustable bed.

The Economy Smart Seat is an industry-first and provides unparalleled comfort for travellers with a new ‘fixed wing’ headrest, maximising comfort and enhancing the sleep experience. The B787 will also feature the latest Panasonic eX3 entertainment system, providing more than 750 hours of on-demand entertainment, improved gaming and high-definition screens in all cabins. - TradeArabia News Service