Eithad has announced it is replacings its 292-seat Airbus A340-600s with 328-seat Boeing 777-300ERs on its daily Melbourne-Abu Dhabi services from December 1.
The aircraft upgauging increases Etihad’s seat capacity on the route, which partner Virgin Australia codeshares on, by 12 per cent as well as significantly boosting freight capacity.
“Switching to the Boeing 777 gives us 12 per cent more seats overall and 25 per cent more in business class. This will enable us to increase our share of the corporate and leisure travel market between Australia and Abu Dhabi and beyond to our worldwide network,” Etihad CEO James Hogan said.
“Etihad Airways’ Melbourne-Abu Dhabi flights are some of the strongest performers in our network – this year load factors between the two cities have averaged more than 80 per cent.”
Etihad’s three-class 777-300ER seat eight in first class, 40 in business class and 280 in economy.
