04 May 2014 11:30
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will debut its new Economy Smart Seat onboard the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft to be delivered later this year, offering guests enhanced comfort and entertainment.
The Economy
Smart Seat is customised with a unique ‘fixed wing’ headrest which offers
greater comfort and relaxation to guests. Upholstered in locally-sourced camel
leather, the fixed wing headrest is designed to provide a firm surface for
guests to rest their heads, as well as additional privacy between seats.
There
is a fleece blanket and pillow on every seat as well as a convenient
entertainment and connectivity hub in the seatback in front with all services
in easy reach.
Peter
Baumgartner, Chief Commercial Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “The new Etihad
Airways A380 and B787 aircraft will reaffirm our status as the World’s Leading
Airline*, with enhanced comfort and enjoyment for all, not just in premium
cabins.
“Etihad
Airways has always understood the importance of providing a travel experience
that cannot be matched by others, and we have spent the past five years
creating an Economy Class product that will be favoured by millions around the world.”
In
2008, recognising that no single design agency could deliver its vision for the
new cabins, Etihad Airways established the Etihad Design Consortium (EDC) which
brought together three leading design companies, Acumen, Factorydesign and
Honour Branding, to develop innovative cabin and seat designs for the new
fleets.
The
EDC partnered with Promise Communispace, a leading co-creation agency, to
launch comprehensive consumer research and workshops in Abu Dhabi, Sydney,
London and New York, with the goal of understanding what makes a ‘perfect
flight’ and asking consumers to help design the perfect airline.
Eighty
per cent of the new product offering is a direct result of the feedback and
information garnered from these workshops.
Etihad
Airways’ design vision was to bring the individuality and exclusivity of a
luxury boutique hotel experience to the sky in a way that embraced Arabian
Modernism, an aesthetic that combines the traditions of the region with
contemporary design.
Etihad Airways is introducing the latest Panasonic EX3
entertainment system across both fleets, providing more than 750 hours of
on-demand entertainment, improved gaming and high definition screens across all
cabins.
The system has video touchscreen handsets, offering an
additional screen for guests to maximise their entertainment, so they can play
games or view the moving map while watching a movie. Noise cancelling headsets are provided across
all cabins, with built-in magnetic audio jacks to ensure the best sound
quality.
The
décor of the new Economy Class product is modern and stylish, inspired by Modern
Arabia, while a number of different mood lighting scenarios add to the relaxing
and welcoming ambience of the cabin.
Across
the entire fleet, Etihad Airways will continue its generous Economy Class
service, offering a selection of three main courses, as well as a café service
with hot chocolate and cappuccino.
In addition, guests
will benefit from the airline’s dedicated family travel program, including the popular
Flying Nanny service on board long-haul flights.
Identified by bright
orange aprons, each Flying Nanny has been trained by the world renowned Norland
College and is on board to provide a ‘helping hand’ to families and
unaccompanied minors.
Guests can browse a
number of stylish duty free displays in the A380, which have been stocked with
a range of best-selling items from Etihad Airways’ extensive retail catalogue.
Importantly
for the airline’s Muslim guests, Etihad Airways has developed prayer areas
which can be curtained off for privacy and are equipped with a real-time
electronic Qibla-finder showing the exact direction of Mecca based on the
aircraft’s geographical position.
*
World Travel Awards 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013
To
view images and video of the new cabins, please click on the following links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gf8k92wBUMg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYPnvSVFxLc
www.etihadmediacentre.com