Etihad Airways upgrade U.S. operations with new aircrafts in 2016

UAE’s national carrier Etihad Airways is keeping up its momentum to further upgrade its U.S. network with new aircrafts in two key markets during 2016. The leading Middle East carrier, which has until now been operating a leased Boeing 777-300ER aircraft for conducting daily flights between Abu Dhabi and San Francisco, has now decided to replace the aircraft with Boeing 777-200LRs starting from April 25, 2016.

Etihad Airways has also indicated that its daily EY101 flight between New York JFK and Abu Dhabi and the return EY100 flight would also see new Boeing 777-300ERs on the route beginning June 1, 2016. Both Abu Dhabi-San Francisco and Abu Dhabi-New York JFK routes are being currently served by Boeing 777-300ER aircraft leased from India’s Jet Airways.

The airline however said that it will continue to operate its second daily service on Abu Dhabi-New York JFK route with the help of its flagship Airbus A380 aircraft. The airline is operating EY103 and EY102 service between the two cities.

The Boeing 777-200LR aircraft to be operated by Etihad Airways on San Francisco-Abu Dhabi route is configured in three classes – First Class, Business Class and Economy Class – with a total carrying capacity of 239 passengers. The customers purchasing business class tickets for traveling on the route would be offered 40 seats in business class cabin. However, those traveling in first class would be offered eight seats and the customers planning to travel in economy class would be offered 191 seats.

According to the airline, the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to be deployed on Abu Dhabi-New York JFK route would offer a total of 328 seats in three travel classes. The number of seats offered in first class and business class would be similar to those being offered on Boeing 777-200LR aircraft. However, the economy class would be somewhat bigger with a total carrying capacity of 280 seats.