Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Etihad Airways has introduced the Boeing 787 Dreamliner on the Dublin route ahead of schedule utilizing both variants of the type -9 and -10 in lieu of its daily EY41/42 Boeing 777-300ER service.  The 787 Dreamliner is fast becoming the backbone of the Abu Dhabi-based carrier’s long-haul fleet.

For the summer peak season Etihad will operate four additional Boeing 787-9 services between 27 June to 15 September featuring 28 Business Class flat-bed seats and 271 Economy Class seats.

Originally Dublin was to be one of the first Etihad 787 routes when announced in 2012 Dublin along with Frankfurt, Istanbul, New Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, Beijing and Nagoya – when deliveries of the aircraft begin in the last quarter of 2014. However Etihad’s equity partnership with Air Berlin saw the carrier focus 787 capacity into the German market serving Air Berlin’s primary hub in Dusseldorf.

In a statement issued in 2017 the carrier said “With a further 61 Dreamliners due to be delivered over the next few years, the 787s will become Etihad Airways’ flagship long-haul aircraft”.

The airline has taken delivery of 28 of 71 Boeing 787 aircraft on order. The airline will continue to take delivery of aircraft until they reach their agreed revised figure.

The airline is the midst of a fleet re-structuring programme with the carrier gradually phasing out its Airbus A330-200 and Airbus A330-300 aircraft . On the 10 January the carrier cancelled an order for 10 Airbus A320neo aircraft planned for Air Serbia.

On 14 February the carrier significant reduced orders worth $21.4 billion at list prices prices for future Airbus and Boeing orders.  The carrier cut its order for Boeing 777-9 aircraft to 6 jets from 25, while cancelling delivery of 42 Airbus A350 , leaving it with 20.

Etihad said in a statement “This will enable the airline to further progress its transformation and adjust to its new operating model. The airline can now concentrate on the phased introduction of new aircraft types, enabling an efficient rationalization of its fleet, and building a network that connects Abu Dhabi to the world”.

Aer Lingus has a code-share partnership on routes to Abu Dhabi and beyond and from Dublin on domestic, European and US routes.

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 19 April 2019 All Rights Reserved