Etihad to fly its B787 Dreamliner to Tokyo

19 Oct 2016 09:00

• Boeing 787 Dreamliner offers Etihad Airways’ luxurious First Suites, Business Studios and Economy Smart Seats on the Abu Dhabi-Tokyo Narita route for the first time.
• An onboard Chef, Food and Beverage Manager and Flying Nanny offer innovative hospitality services inflight.

The state-of-the-art aircraft, configured in three classes, features the airline’s ground-breaking First Suites, Business Studios and Economy Smart Seats. It will replace the Airbus A340 which currently operates the non-stop service.

Kevin Knight, Etihad Aviation Group Chief Strategy and Planning Officer, said the upgrade to the B787 Dreamliner reflected the importance of the Japan route and the airline’s commitment to the market.

“The B787 Dreamliner is an exceptional aircraft from an operational and guest experience perspective.

“Its unique design and our innovative and stylish cabins offer a guest experience that’s superior in terms of luxury and comfort.

“These product attributes and the Etihad inflight service and hospitality – on board Chefs, Food & Beverage Managers and Flying Nannies – make ours a winning proposition.”

Etihad Airways’ three-class B787 Dreamliner has 235 seats with eight First Suites, 28 Business Studios and 199 Economy Smart Seats.

The ultra-luxurious First Suites are private living spaces with a Poltrona Frau leather-upholstered seat that coverts to a fully flat six-foot-eight-inch bed. The centre suites can be opened up to create a double bed for guests who are travelling together. A unique curved aisle offers more personal space inside each suite. The First Suite also has a 24” LCD TV monitor, a personal wardrobe and a chilled refreshments cabinet. A professional on board Chef, exclusive to First Class, offers guests a bespoke, made-to-order dining experience with dishes prepared inflight from a larder of fresh produce.

In Business Class, the Business Studio offers direct aisle access from every seat, a fully flat bed of up to 80.5 inches long, and an increase in personal space of 20 per cent over the aircraft it replaces. Upholstered in the finest Poltrona Frau leather, the Business Studio is equipped with an in-seat massage and pneumatic cushion control system which enables guests to adjust the firmness and comfort of their seat. Each Business Studio has an 18-inch personal touch-screen TV with noise-cancelling headsets.

For inflight dining, Business Class guests are offered a choice of three main course items, with a dine-on-demand option for guests to choose when they would like to eat. A specialist Food and Beverage Manager, dedicated to service in the Business Class cabin, is on hand to offer guests expert advice on the menu and to make recommendations on wine pairing.

Business Class guests also receive comfortable loungewear and slippers and a limited-edition Etihad Airways LUXE amenity kit which includes a range of personal care items.

In Economy Class, the Economy Smart Seat provides superior comfort with a unique ‘fixed wing’ headrest on each seat, adjustable lumbar support, an innovative multi-purpose pillow, a seat width of approximately 19 inches, and an 11.1” personal TV monitor.

Etihad Airways’ Dreamliner fleet is equipped with the latest Panasonic eX3 entertainment system which provides more than 750 hours of on-demand entertainment including seven live TV channels, improved gaming and high definition screens across all cabins. The aircraft has full mobile and Wi-Fi service, with USB and power points at every seat.

These features are complemented by the airline’s world-renowned hospitality which includes multinational and Japanese-speaking cabin crew and innovative services such as the Flying Nanny. A Flying Nanny, trained by the world-renowned Norland College in the UK, is on board every B787 Dreamliner flight to provide assistance to families travelling with young children.

Etihad Airways commenced service to Japan on 1 February 2010 with five weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Nagoya, via Beijing. This increased to daily on 30 March 2014. Tokyo Narita was added to the Japan route on 27 March 2010 with five weekly non-stop flights, going daily on 31 March 2013.