Etihad Airways to launch Airbus A380 to New York JFK December 1

Etihad Airways has announced that it will be launching its new Airbus A380 aircraft to be operated between Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) starting from December 1, 2015. The new superjumbo will be featuring the airline’s exclusive and world’s first private 3-room ultra-luxurious cabin “The Residence” suite on board an aircraft.

The new Flight EY103 will depart from Abu Dhabi at 0255 hrs and reach New York at 0840 hrs. The return Flight EY102 will make its departure from New York at 1500 hrs and arrive in Abu Dhabi at 1230 hrs the next day.

The airline said that apart from the first class multi-room The Residence apartment, the Airbus A380 aircraft will be offering 9 seats in first class, 70 seats in business class and 417 seats in economy class.

New York will be first destination in the United States where the airline’s next-generation Airbus A380 aircraft will be launched. The airline had earlier launched its Airbus A380 aircraft on its Dusseldorf and London Heathrow routes in December 2014. The airline is planning to operate thrice daily Airbus A380 services to London Heathrow by the end of 2015.

James Hogan, President and CEO of Etihad Airways, said, “New York will be the first destination in the U.S. where Airbus A380 aircraft will be introduced. The aircraft on Abu Dhabi-New York JFK route is being upgraded because of the growing demand by passengers traveling between the two destinations.”

Hogan said that the United States has become a strategic and important part in the airline’s growing global network.