19 Oct 2016 09:00
From 1 December 2016, guests flying between Abu Dhabi and Tokyo Narita will enjoy the luxury and comfort of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner when Etihad Airways upgrades its service on the route.
- 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.