- India’s commercial capital joins Etihad Airways’ network of A380 destinations
- Offers a seamless A380 service to New York via Abu Dhabi
- Brings The Residence and class-leading, award-winning next-generation cabins on the route
- Increases seat capacity to bring more inbound tourism to India and State of Maharashtra
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will operate its award-winning Airbus A380 to India for the first time with direct scheduled flights between Abu Dhabi and Mumbai from 1 May 2016. The new route will connect with the carrier’s A380 New York service.
The introduction of the superjumbo to India’s commercial capital increases the number of Etihad Airways’ A380 destinations to five, which include Sydney and recently-announced Melbourne to start from June next year. Etihad Airways’ A380 features the only three-room suite in commercial aviation – The Residence by Etihad – as well as nine First Apartments, 70 Business Studios, and 415 Economy Smart Seats.
The A380 will operate daily on flight EY204 from Abu Dhabi to Mumbai, and EY203 from Mumbai to Abu Dhabi, both of which will carry the 9W code of Jet Airways, Etihad Airways’ strategic partner.
Guests onboard Etihad Airways’ A380 service will also be able to connect to popular international destinations served by the airline over Abu Dhabi such as Chicago, San Francisco or Toronto in North America, and Bahrain, Doha or Jeddah in the Gulf region.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Etihad Airways A380 has set a new benchmark for luxury and innovation and we are delighted to announce that this world-class service will soon be available to guests flying to and from Mumbai.
“Guests will also be able to connect over our Abu Dhabi hub to Etihad Airways’ A380 service to New York, offering the comfort, convenience and superior inflight service of A380 flights all the way.
“Bringing our flagship product to India and to the State of Maharashtra is further proof of our confidence in the Indian market and our commitment to its economy.”
Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Honourable Chief Minister of Maharashtra, today welcomed the news, saying: “This announcement by Etihad Airways is yet another sign of international confidence in the powerhouse economy of Maharashtra. I look forward to the growth in tourism and business that this service can bring to our state.”
Etihad Airways is carrying an increasing number of air travellers from the Middle East, Africa, Europe and The Americas to cities across India, helping drive economic growth throughout the country, and not just the metropolitan areas. In 2014, nearly one million guests who travelled on Etihad Airways’ India flights began their journey from outside the country, representing almost 70 per cent of total passengers who flew to and from India with the Abu Dhabi-based airline.
Through the partnership with Jet Airways, guests flying into India are able to connect to numerous tourism and commercial destinations across the country.
Etihad Airways’ thrice-daily service to Mumbai, in addition to Jet Airways’ double daily flights, offers guests access to more than 2,000 weekly connections in 57 markets across the Gulf region, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and North America.
With a total capacity of 496 seats, the A380 offers 50 per cent more seats than the Boeing B777-300ER it replaces, offering more options for tourism growth into India, USA and Abu Dhabi.
All guests flying to New York are processed through US Preclearance in Abu Dhabi which allows them to pass through all US immigration and customs checks and arrive in the US as domestic passengers.
Daily flight schedule between Abu Dhabi and Mumbai, effective 1 May 2016:
| Flight no. | Origin | Destination | Departs | Arrives | Aircraft | Frequency |
| EY212 | Abu Dhabi | Mumbai | 03.10 | 08.25 | A320 | Daily |
| EY213 | Mumbai | Abu Dhabi | 10.20 | 12.10 | A320 | Daily |
| * EY204 | Abu Dhabi | Mumbai | 14.10 | 19.20 | A380 | Daily |
| * EY203 | Mumbai | Abu Dhabi | 21.35 | 23.25 | A380 | Daily |
| EY206 | Abu Dhabi | Mumbai | 21.35 | 02.50 | B777 | Daily |
| EY205 | Mumbai | Abu Dhabi | 04.20 | 06.10 | B777 | Daily |
Note: All departures and arrivals are listed in local time.
* Subject to government approval
About Etihad Airways’ A380:
Etihad Airways’ unique A380s can carry 496 passengers in a four-class configuration – The Residence, First Apartments, Business Studios and Economy Smart Seats – offering an unprecedented level of luxury, space and privacy in the most highly-customised commercial cabin interior ever.
The Residence by Etihad features a living room, separate ensuite shower room, double bedroom, and a dedicated Savoy-trained Butler.
It features a large 32” LCD monitor in the living room and a separate 24” version in bedroom.
Measuring 125 square feet in total, The Residence by Etihad is located on the forward upper deck of the A380 and is available for single or double occupancy.
The nine First Apartments in First Class are private living spaces featuring a reclining lounge chair and an ottoman, upholstered in Poltrona Frau leather, which opens up to become a separate 80.5 inch long fully flat bed.
Each First Apartment offers a 74 per cent increase in space over the airline’s current award-winning First Class Suites, a 24” LCD TV monitor and personal vanity unit. A fully equipped shower room is available for the exclusive use of First Class guests.
Seventy Business Studios are located on the upper deck of the A380, all offering 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.
The Lobby, a luxurious lounge located between the First Class and Business Class cabins, features two comfortable leather sofas and a staffed bar serving a selection of snacks and refreshments.
The main deck features 415 Economy Smart Seats, which 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” personal TV monitor.
Etihad Airways has introduced the latest Panasonic eX3 entertainment system on its A380 fleet, providing more than 750 hours of on-demand entertainment, improved gaming, and high definition screens across all cabins. The A380 has full mobile and Wi-Fi service, with USB and power points at every seat.
Etihad Airways’ strategic partner, Jet Airways, will codeshare on the new A380 services.
About Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways began operations in 2003, and in 2014 carried 14.8 million passengers. From its Abu Dhabi base, Etihad Airways flies to or has announced plans to serve 113 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas. The airline has a fleet of 119 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and more than 200 aircraft on firm order, including 66 Boeing 787s, 25 Boeing 777-X, 62 Airbus A350s and five Airbus A380s.
Etihad Airways holds equity investments in airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Jet Airways, Virgin Australia, and Swiss-based Darwin Airline, trading as Etihad Regional. Etihad Airways, along with airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Etihad Regional, Jet Airways and NIKI, also participate in Etihad Airways Partners, a new brand that brings together like-minded airlines to offer customers more choice through improved networks and schedules and enhanced frequent flyer benefits. For more information, please visit: www.etihad.com