Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has announced that its award-winning Airbus A380 service will begin flying between Abu Dhabi and New York’s John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport on November 23.

The updated arrival date and additional capacity for A380 service comes in response to strong demand from Etihad Airways guests who are traveling during the US’s busy Thanksgiving holiday, as well as to attend the 2015 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix taking place from November 27 to 29. The new service was originally scheduled to begin on December 1 and will replace one of the existing Boeing 777 services.

James Hogan, Etihad president and chief executive officer, said: “Etihad Airways is committed to reimagining the travel experience to offer the ultimate in luxury, comfort and service for our guests. The overwhelmingly positive response we have received to our A380 service on our Abu Dhabi to London and Sydney routes, as well as for our upcoming launch to New York has exceeded our expectations. With the early introduction of our A380 service into New York, we look forward to further redefining what world-class air travel can be for our guests traveling on Etihad Airways across all classes of service.”

From the moment they begin their journey, guests in The Residence by Etihad enjoy the ultimate in luxury: a chauffeur-driven ride to the airport; up to two guests on board will experience a private three-room suite that includes a living room, a double bedroom, and a separate ensuite shower room.

Guests also have access to the Etihad Lifestyle Concierge team, which works closely with the airline’s in-flight, Savoy-trained butlers to deliver highly personalised service both on the ground and in the air, including dining reservations, entertainment bookings, special events, destination information and lifestyle services.

The nine First Apartments in First Class are completely private living spaces featuring a reclining lounge chair and an ottoman, which opens up to become a separate 80.5 inch long fully-flat bed.

A total of 70 Business Studios are located on the upper deck of the A380, all offering direct aisle access, a fully flat bed of up to 80.5 inches long, and an increase of 20 per cent in personal space.

The Lobby, a luxurious lounge located between the First Class and Business Class cabins, features two comfortable leather sofas and a staffed bar serving a wide selection of hot snacks and refreshments.

The main deck features 415 Economy Smart Seats, which provide enhanced comfort with a unique ‘fixed wing’ headrest on each seat, adjustable lumbar support, and a seat width of almost 19 inches.

Etihad Airways has introduced the latest Panasonic eX3 entertainment system on its A380 fleet, providing more than 750 hours of on-demand entertainment, improved gaming, and high definition screens across all cabins. The A380 has full mobile and wi-fi service, with USB and power points at every seat.

Etihad Airways will offer daily service with the airline’s new A380 between the two cities, with EY103 departing Abu Dhabi at 3:20 am and arriving at 9:10 am in New York. The return flight, EY102, will depart New York at 2:30 pm and arrive the next day in Abu Dhabi at 12:15 pm. – TradeArabia News Service