Etihad Airways has unveiled new seats for its Boeing 787 Dreamliners at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai. The new seats will debut in the third quarter of this year when the carrier expects to take delivery of three Dreamliners.
The Arabian Travel Market is taking place this week in Dubai from May 01-04, and at the event, Etihad Airways is showcasing a series of products. Today, the carrier unveiled new seats for its Boeing 787s, set to debut in Q3. Eithad chose the Elements seat from Collins for its business class and is the first airline worldwide to select the seat for a Dreamliner. The airline customized the seat, increasing the height of the suite from the original, which debuted on the Airbus A350.
Technology is also getting a big upgrade, with significant additions to Etihad’s inflight entertainment system. The Dreamliners’ business class cabins will be fitted with new Rave Ultra 4K inflight entertainment screens. The new IFE screens feature Bluetooth connectivity, which is becoming an industry standard with new IFE, and the capability for phones/tablets to be paired and used as remotes.
“Etihad’s new 787 Dreamliner cabin interior showcases further enhancements to our award-winning and industry renowned cabins. Our new Business class takes the guest experience to new heights with the second evolution of the Business Studio which was launched on the Airbus A350-1000 last year,” Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways.
IFE is not the only technology being upgraded. Etihad has selected new WiFI equipment from Viasat that uses Ka band technology to offer high speeds, capable of streaming in flight, and allows the airline to provide live television. Various WiFi packages are already available on flights, including free chat packages, allowing passengers to stay connected to the most popular messaging apps, like WhatsApp, Messenger, and more. Additional packages are available for purchase.
In October, Etihad made a big announcement regarding its soft products in business class, partnering with Armani Casa. The ‘Constellation Collection,’ as named by Etihad and Armani, features new bedding, cutlery, dinnerware, and glassware. According to Etihad, the new products have been rolled out in business class on all its aircraft.
Sustainability remains a focus for Etihad, announcing the elimination of single-use plastics for inflight dining in economy cabins. All equipment has been designed to provide the best experience for the passenger as well as maintain efficiency in crew’s operations.
New seats have also been selected for the economy cabin, lighter in weight than current seats, providing more fuel efficiency for the aircraft. New 4K touchscreens will also be installed.
Neves added, “We remain fully committed to providing industry-leading experiences for our guests and we’re proud to showcase this here at the Arabian Travel Market. This year is about growth for Etihad – as well as enhancing our guest experience and adding aircraft to our fleet, we’ve announced new routes for our network, including Kolkata last month, Lisbon, Malaga and Mykonos this summer and Copenhagen and Dusseldorf in the fourth quarter.”
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