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Etihad Airways’ fifth Boeing 777-300ER aircraft touched down at Abu Dhabi International Airport at midday
on Thursday.
The ultra long-range aircraft – the last of the existing five-strong order placed with Boeing – made light work of the 11,981-kilometre journey from
Seattle to Abu Dhabi, completing the route in just 14 hours, 45 minutes.
The two-zone aircraft, which has 28 seats in Pearl and 350 seats in Coral, will operate the busy Abu Dhabi-Bangkok route which goes double-daily
from 4 June, and will also be deployed on services to London Gatwick, Manila and Jakarta.
“The arrival of our last Boeing 777-300 is another major milestone in Etihad’s rapid development,” said HH Dr. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saif Al
Nahyan, chairman of Etihad Airways. “We are confident all our guests will enjoy travelling on this technologically advanced aircraft, particularly business
travellers who have unlimited Internet access through the on-board Connexion
by Boeing package.”
Each zone has been
designed to meet passengers’ requirements, as evidenced by the Pearl zone seats which recline 180 degrees into a
flat and comfortable bed.
The Boeing 777-300ER will also significantly enhance Etihad Crystal Cargo’s competitiveness throughout its network. The new aircraft has a
capacity of up to 20 tonnes of cargo, even with a full passenger load.
Etihad Airways’ record order for the new Airbus and Boeing fleet was made in 2004 and worth US$8 billion. As well as purchasing the five Boeing
777-300ER aircraft, Etihad has also ordered 24 Airbus aircraft – four A340-500s, four A340-600s, 12 A330-200s and four double-decker A380s.
Since
January 2006, three A330-200 aircraft have been delivered to Abu Dhabi, and Etihad’s first three-zone A340-500, is scheduled to arrive in
June.
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