Bangkok--29 Sep--TQPR Thailand
Etihad Airways will deploy a Boeing 787 Dreamliner on one of its twice-daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh 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 the comfort of a wide-body aircraft.
Together with the other daily Boeing 777 Riyadh service, Etihad Airways will have more than 8,700 weekly seats on the route.
Flight EY317 will be operated with a B787 Dreamliner, departing Abu Dhabi at 10:15 hrs, arriving into Riyadh at 11:15 hrs. The return flight EY318 will depart Riyadh at 16:25 hrs, arriving into Abu Dhabi at19:10 hrs. The flights will provide optimal timings for guests in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, as well as convenient connections to and from Australia, Asia, Europe and Indian subcontinent.
The 299-seat B787 Dreamliner aircraft is a two-class configuration with 28 Business Studios and 271 Economy Smart Seats.
The acclaimed Business Studio provides all guests with direct aisle access and is equipped with an in-seat massage and air cushion control system to adjust the seat cushion for added comfort.
Business Class guests can choose from an a la carte and Dine Anytime menu. Specialised hospitality services are also offered on board, including a Food & Beverage Manager in the Business Class cabin, multi-national cabin crew and a Flying Nanny, who is able to offer a helping hand to parents travelling with young children.
Economy Class guests will enjoy the comfort of the airline's Economy Smart Seat which features 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 introduction of the aircraft to Perth, Düsseldorf and Shanghai, with Abu Dhabi – Johannesburg scheduled to become a B787 Dreamliner route on 1 November. Etihad Airways' current fleet of nine B787s also operates to Brisbane, Singapore, Washington D.C. and Zurich.