Etihad Airways upgrades Abu Dhabi-Zurich flights to Boeing 787
By Chris C., June 9 2015
Virgin Australia partner Etihad Airways will fly Boeing 787s on its Abu Dhabi-Zurich flights from July 6 2015.
A significant step up from the route's current Airbus A330-300, the Dreamliner comes with eight of Etihad’s brand new first class suites offering guests a chilled mini-bar and the option of adjoining seats or total privacy...
... the new Business Studio business class cabin, which provides direct aisle access and a fully-flat bed to all of its 28 passengers...
... and 199 comfortable smart seats in economy, sporting a 'fixed wing' headrest to maximise your personal space on those longer flights.
The daily EY73 service departs Abu Dhabi at 2:05am to reach Zurich at 6:55am later that morning.
On the return leg as EY74, travellers are wheels-up from Zurich at 11:25am to arrive into Abu Dhabi at 7:55pm that evening.
Competitor and Qantas partner Emirates is too upgrading its Zurich flights from neighbouring Dubai, making the route all-A380 from October 1.
Closer to home, Etihad's Dreamliner flies non-stop to Brisbane daily, while the airline's flagship Airbus A380 now graces Sydney's skies.
Perth is also earmarked for the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner in 2016 or 2017, but a firm date hasn't been locked in.
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Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
14 Apr 2015
Total posts 7
So that's why my AUH-DUS flight is going back to a 333 from a 789... The 789 got shuttledto ZRH instead.
qantas
18 Oct 2012
Total posts 68
Seriously poor form from EY; i'm in the same boat as you Joel. I'm sure like many I booked specifically on this route to take advantage of the new J product.
14 Apr 2015
Total posts 7
Yeah man. Booked it for the sake of the 789. Got a lame duck tweet from Etihad when I asked... "Hi Joel, the aircraft type may be changed due to operational reason. Thanks."
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Feb 2015
Total posts 20
More 787 routes. they dont have enough planes for the existing routes.
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