Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has launched new daily non-stop flights between Brisbane, Queensland (Australia) and Abu Dhabi.

Etihad Airways flight EY484 departed the airline’s home base, Abu Dhabi, at 10 pm yesterday and will arrive in Brisbane at 5.50 pm today where it will be met by a traditional water cannon salute. Return flight EY485 will depart Brisbane for Abu Dhabi at 9.35 pm today and arrive in Abu Dhabi at 6 am local time.

The new non-stop flights are operated by Etihad Airways’ brand new three-class Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner which features the airline’s ground-breaking next generation First Suite, Business Studio and Economy Smart Seat.

The Dreamliner flights offer First Class on the Brisbane – Abu Dhabi route for the first time ever and will replace the daily one-stop services which the airline previously operated via Singapore with a two-class Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

Etihad Airways’ president and chief executive officer, James Hogan, said the flights were a reflection of Etihad Airways’ enduring commitment to the Queensland travel market and the strong performance of the Brisbane route.

“The commencement of daily non-stop Dreamliner services enables us to offer our strongest ever customer proposition on the Brisbane – Abu Dhabi route and represents a significant investment in the Queensland market.”

“By re-timing our Brisbane-Abu Dhabi flights with evening departures in both directions and removing the stop in Singapore, we can now offer guests the convenience of shorter travel times and two-way connectivity to more than 30 destinations in the GCC, Middle East, Africa and Europe,” he said.

First Class guests on-board the 787-9 Dreamliner will be offered an enhanced suite with a chilled mini-bar, complete privacy and centre seats which can be joined to create a double bed. Business Class guests will have the space and comfort of the airline’s new Business Studios – each offering direct aisle access and a fully flat bed of up to 80.5 inches in length. In the Economy Class cabin, the innovative Economy Smart Seat provides enhanced comfort with a unique ‘fixed wing’ headrest on each seat.

Etihad Airways’ new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will carry 235 guests – eight in First Class, 28 in Business Class and 199 in Economy Class. Passengers on the B787-9 Dreamliner enjoy improvements such as the industry’s largest windows; air that is cleaner, more humid and at a higher pressure for better comfort; large overhead stowage bins, soothing LED lighting; and technology to sense and counter turbulence for a smoother ride. - TradeArabia News Service