Riyadh, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA – Etihad Airways is to deploy a Boeing 787 Dreamliner on one of its twice-daily scheduled flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, with effect from 30 October 2016.
The
upgrade from a single aisle Airbus A321 aircraft will cater to strong demand to
and from the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, offering guests more seats
on a wide-body aircraft. Together with the other daily Riyadh service operated by
a Boeing 777, Etihad Airways will have more than 8,700 weekly seats on the
route.
Flight
EY317 will be operated with a B787, departing Abu Dhabi at 10:15 hrs, arriving
into Riyadh at 11:15 hrs. The return flight EY318 departs Riyadh at 16:25 hrs,
arriving into Abu Dhabi at 19:10 hrs. The flights will provide optimal timings
for guests in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, and convenient connections to and from destinations
across key markets in Europe, Indian subcontinent, Asia and Australia.
The
299-seat aircraft, configured in two classes, offers award-winning cabin
interiors with 28 seats in Business and 271 in Economy.
Guests
will be able to experience the airline’s renowned Business Studio on board. The
seat, which provides guests with direct aisle access, is also equipped with an
in-seat massage and air cushion control system. Business Class guests using the
service can choose from three main courses, with further dine-on-demand options
available. There are also specialised services onboard, including a Food &
Beverage Manager in the premium cabin, multi-national cabin crew and Flying
Nannies, who are able to provide support to parents travelling with young
children.
For B787 Economy Class passengers, the airline’s
commitment to providing the best guest experiences is showcased by its ‘Smart
Seats’. They have been designed to provide additional comfort through simple
design features such as a ‘fixed wing’ headrest, extra seat width and individual
TV monitors. Etihad
Airways currently operates the latest Panasonic eX3 IFE equipment for its B787
inflight entertainment system. Mobile connectivity with access to onboard Wi-Fi
and seven satellite channels of live TV are also available.
Kevin
Knight, Etihad Airways Chief Strategy and Planning Officer, said: “The Boeing
787 is playing a key role in Etihad Airways’ fleet expansion with routes
carefully selected on which to deploy this unique aircraft. We are delighted
that Riyadh will soon join our 787 cities giving guests a different experience
to and from Abu Dhabi, and with convenient connections to destinations across
our diverse worldwide network.
“The
aircraft also provides significantly more cargo capacity to facilitate the
movement of a greater number of goods to and from the Saudi capital. The
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a very important market for Etihad Airways,
supporting our global expansion since the launch of services 13 years ago. Our
commitment to the Saudi market has grown since we began flying to Riyadh in
2004, steadily increasing our presence to the current 63 flights each week to
and from four Saudi cities.”
On
the Riyadh route alone, Etihad Airways has flown more than 2.5 million guests
since 2004.
Etihad
Airways’ flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah and Dammam are complemented by Saudi
codeshare partner flynas, whose dedicated services between Abu Dhabi and both
Riyadh and Jeddah provide travellers with even more choice.
Riyadh
becomes Etihad Airways’ newest B787 destination this year following the
induction of the aircraft on flights to Perth, Dusseldorf and Shanghai, with Abu
Dhabi – Johannesburg set to become a Dreamliner route on 1 November. Etihad
Airways’ current fleet of nine B787s also operates to Singapore, Washington DC,
Brisbane and Zurich.
Daily
flight schedules: Abu Dhabi – Riyadh
Flt No.
|
Origin
|
Departs
|
Destination
|
Arrives
|
Aircraft
|
EY315
|
Abu Dhabi
|
01:55
|
Riyadh
|
02:45
|
Boeing 777
|
EY316
|
Riyadh
|
04:15
|
Abu Dhabi
|
07:00
|
Boeing 777
|
EY317
|
Abu Dhabi
|
10:15
|
Riyadh
|
11:15
|
Boeing 787
|
EY318
|
Riyadh
|
16:25
|
Abu Dhabi
|
19:10
|
Boeing 787
|
Note: All
departures and arrivals are listed in local time.