Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has unveiled plans to fly its Boeing 787s to five more destinations during 2016.

With a phased delivery of five new 787s over a seven-month period, beginning May 2016, the 299-seat 787 Dreamliners will be deployed as replacements for existing aircraft on daily scheduled services to Dusseldorf, Perth, Shanghai, Istanbul and Johannesburg from the airline’s Abu Dhabi hub.

Etihad Airways currently operates five 787s, serving Brisbane, Washington, Singapore and Zurich from Abu Dhabi. With a further 66 Boeing 787s due to be delivered over the next few years, the Dreamliners will become Etihad Airways’ flagship long-haul aircraft.

James Hogan, president and chief executive officer of Etihad Airways, said: “Since introducing our first 787 into commercial service in February, we have enjoyed excellent feedback from guests of our ground-breaking cabin interiors that have set a benchmark for high service levels in the region and across the world.

“Beginning May next year, Etihad Airways’ newly delivered 787 Dreamliners will replace existing aircraft on our Dusseldorf, Perth, Shanghai, Istanbul and Johannesburg routes, among our most popular markets, giving guests an opportunity to fly on our next-generation aircraft.

“Today’s travellers are increasingly looking for greater comfort, higher standards, more choice and better convenience as priorities in their decision-making and we, at Etihad Airways, are striving to meet their high expectations through innovations such as introducing new planes to the fleet and continuing to upgrade our routes.”

Etihad Airways’ newest 787-9 variant will include highly-acclaimed interiors featuring 28 Business Studios and 271 Economy Smart Seats, offering superior levels of comfort, entertainment and in-flight connectivity.

On-board décor and lighting have been inspired by contemporary modern Arabian design, complementing the new ‘Facets of Abu Dhabi’ design identity introduced by the airline during its livery re-launch last year.

The 28 Business Studios all offer direct aisle access, a fully flat bed of up to 80.5 inches long, and an increase of 20 per cent in personal space. Upholstered in Poltrona Frau leather, the Business Studio is equipped with an in-seat massage and a pneumatic cushion control system. Each seat has an 18-inch personal touch-screen TV with noise-cancelling headsets.

The 271-seat Economy seats provide enhanced comfort with a unique ‘fixed wing’ headrest on each seat, adjustable lumbar support, a seat width of approximately 19 inches, and an 11.1-inch personal TV monitor.

Etihad Airways features the latest Panasonic eX3 entertainment system on its 787 fleet, providing more than 750 hours of on-demand entertainment, improved gaming, and high definition screens across all cabins. The aircraft has full mobile and Wi-Fi service, with USB and power points at every seat. – TradeArabia News Service