Tourism & Hospitality | Tuesday 3 November, 2015 3:41 pm |

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will operate its award-winning Airbus A380 between Abu Dhabi and Mumbai from 1 May 2016, with India’s commercial capital joining the carrier’s other A380 destinations of London, New York, Sydney and, from June 2016, Melbourne.

 

The Abu Dhabi-based airline’s 496-seat 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 aircraft will operate daily on flight EY204 from Abu Dhabi to Mumbai, and EY203 from Mumbai to Abu Dhabi, both of which carry the 9W code of Jet Airways, Etihad Airways’ strategic partner. The flights connect seamlessly with Etihad Airways’ A380-operated services to New York, allowing guests to experience the double-decker aircraft throughout their journey. 

 

Guests onboard Etihad Airways’ A380 service will also have access to popular connecting destinations 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.

 

“Furthermore, the A380 out of Mumbai will connect seamlessly at our Abu Dhabi hub to the A380 service to New York, offering our New York-bound guests the comfort, convenience and superior inflight service of A380 flights all the way.”

 

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’ thrice-daily service to Mumbai, in addition to Jet Airways’ double daily service, 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 has 50 per cent more seats than the Boeing B777-300ER it replaces, offering more options for tourism growth into India, USA and Abu Dhabi.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Through the partnership with Jet Airways, guests flying into India are able to connect to numerous tourism and commercial destinations across the country.

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 the 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.