Etihad Airways unveils its new aircraft, Estidama 50, with the launch of its inaugural flight to Paris
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Etihad Airways today unveiled its new Airbus A350-1000, with the launch of a special inaugural commercial flight from Abu Dhabi to Paris.
It is the first A350 to be operated by a UAE airline, and the first of five other A350s to join the Etihad Airways fleet in the coming months.
The first flight departed from Abu Dhabi to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris at 7:30 am, carrying a delegation consisting of representatives of Etihad Airways and Airbus, as well as a number of diplomats, media professionals and other dignitaries and business partners.
Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “We are proud to include the Airbus A350 to serve Etihad’s network. They are amazing aircraft. Our team has put in a lot of effort and collaborated with various stakeholders to create a unique product that will make every flight a pleasure. On board Etihad Airways is an ideal choice for airline guests and the environment alike. With high operational fuel efficiency and carbon savings, the Airbus A350 supports our goals to reduce our carbon footprint and provide an unparalleled travel experience.”
sustainability 50
The aircraft bears "Estidama 50" distinctive paintwork that celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the United Arab Emirates and Etihad's commitment to zero carbon emissions by 2050. The aircraft will join Etihad's industry-leading sustainability campaign, as part of its sustainability program aimed at eliminating emissions. carbon emissions associated with the operations of the aviation sector.
The establishment of the program came in cooperation between Etihad, Airbus, Rolls and Race in 2021, and will see the use of the Etihad Airbus A350 as a laboratory for new innovative initiatives, products and technologies that focus on reducing carbon emissions, building on what has been learned and acquired through the similar “Greenliner” program that was applied to Etihad’s aircraft. The company's Boeing B787.
The Trent XWB engine for the Airbus A350 is one of the world's most efficient aircraft engines, with fuel consumption and carbon emissions up to 25 percent lower than the previous generation twin-aisle engines.
Etihad recently established a formal framework with Airbus to collaborate on sustainability across areas including the promotion and marketing of sustainable aviation fuels, waste and weight management, and the development of data-driven analytics.
In this regard, Douglas says: “We designed our sustainability program to be an engine of mutual cooperation, and our strategic partnership today with Airbus comes to allow us to benefit from the qualifications and competencies of the Airbus A350 in terms of sustainability, through our “Sustainability 50” program as we continue our efforts to achieve our goals involved in reducing the aviation sector’s carbon footprint on the environment.”
Destination network
The new Airbus A350 will serve a number of short and medium-haul destinations in the second quarter of this year, including Mumbai and Delhi, before being introduced to service destinations such as Chicago and New York from July.
Guest experiences
The new aircraft will be the first to offer the latest Abu Dhabi-inspired Etihad cabin interior design that is more efficient, sustainable and guest-centric.
Etihad has always been known for the high quality of its aircraft, and the Airbus A350 interior is loaded with thoughtful and in-depth detailing to provide exceptional comfort and enhanced privacy.
The lighting designs for Al Ittihad were inspired by the shades that Abu Dhabi palm trees cast on their surroundings.
The cabin lighting mimics the natural lighting of the place and is designed to enhance the guest experience, provide an ideal sleeping environment and reduce the effects of time difference between countries.
The Airbus A350 offers the quietest cabin environment for wide-body aircraft.
Another feature of the cabin is the ability to reduce various lights from other devices such as the dark night mode feature for the E-BOX inflight entertainment system interface.
Wi-Fi and a mobile phone are also available on the plane.
Young Etihad stars will be able to enjoy the newly launched Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi themed family travel experience for younger guests.
A special feature of this plane is the new interactive flight map function, which helps children discover maps with the help of their dinosaur friends.
Business degree
The lavish Business Class cabin features 44 studios, each with its own sliding door, allowing for a high level of privacy.
The seats are forward facing and all provide a direct exit to the aisles.
Seat width over 20 inches, fully flat bed 79 inches, with ample stowage for added convenience.
Noise-cancelling headphones and 18.5-inch display provide a cinematic experience for Etihad's in-flight entertainment system.
The seats also carry a professionally integrated wireless charging patch with the ability to connect headphones via Bluetooth.
Business Class guests can choose their dishes from the menu designed for each flight, and on long-haul flights they can choose the "anytime dining" service.
economy class
Etihad's spacious Economy Class cabin is designed to house 327 smart 3-3-3 seats, 45 of which are 'Economy Spacious' seats enhanced by an additional 4 inches of legroom.
The Crystal Cabin award-winning class seats were selected after extensive customer testing, in which Etihad based their feedback on comfort and sustainability.
The seats feature Etihad-branded headrests, USB charging ports and Bluetooth headset connectivity, as well as a 13.3-inch display screen to enjoy the award-winning Etihad in-flight entertainment system.
All guests receive blankets and pillows for extra comfort, as well as an amenity bag for long trips, and can enjoy complimentary food and beverage service provided by our award-winning guest staff.
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