Etihad has announced plans to operate daily non-stop flights between Brisbane and Abu Dhabi from June next year using Boeing 787-9s.
The non-stop flights, which will begin on June 1, will replace the airline’s existing daily one-stop flights to Abu Dhabi which operate via Singapore with Airbus A330-200s.
“The introduction of the first ever daily non-stop service between Brisbane and Abu Dhabi enables us to build on the route’s robust performance by offering our strongest customer proposition yet – an enhanced onboard experience, shorter travel times, and the convenience of one-stop connectivity to popular destinations in the Middle East, Africa and Europe,” said Etihad Airways CEO James Hogan in a statement.
“Etihad Airways’ first Boeing 787 will enter the fleet in December 2014 and Queenslanders will be among the first in the world to experience the aircraft’s next generation product and service offering. The brand new First Suites, Business Studios and Economy Smart Seats were five years in the making and I am confident that they will be game-changers for the Brisbane market.”
The airline’s 787-9s will seat 235 passengers, comprising eight in first class, 28 in business and 199 in economy class. The current A330-200s are configured in a two-class, 262-seat configuration. As such the 787 services will also introduce first class on the route.
Etihad began three times weekly Brisbane-Singapore services in September 2007. It has operated daily flights since February 2013.
