Etihad to operate A380 on Abu Dhabi-New York route

Etihad Airways has announced it will operate its new A380 aircraft on its Abu Dhabi to New York route from December this year.

The gulf carrier said it will continue to offer a double daily service between the two cities with the A380 allowing Etihad to “match capacity with increased demand”.

Etihad said that in 2014 its business and economy class load factors exceeded 80 per cent on the route.

Etihad’s CEO and president James Hogan said: “The United States is a strategically important part of Etihad Airways’ growing global network and as a result of increased demand from our guests traveling between New York and Abu Dhabi we are pleased to upgrade one of our two daily flights to an A380.”

The A380 features The Residence by Etihad, the airline’s private three-room suite. It will offer nine First Apartments, 70 business and 415 economy class seats.

Beginning December 1, 2015, Etihad Airways double daily service schedule between Abu Dhabi and New York-JFK will operate as follows: