Etihad Airways Return of Airbus A380 to London Heathrow

Etihad Airways, one of the two national airlines of the United Arab Emirates, has celebrated the return of its Airbus A380 to service via a special inaugural commercial flight to London Heathrow. The first four Airbus A380s of Etihad will return to the sky this week on the popular Abu Dhabi-London route.

Before the inaugural flight departed from Abu Dhabi, executives from Etihad, Abu Dhabi Airport and the Department of Culture and Tourism gathered to welcome back the aircraft. To celebrate the occasion, onboard guests were treated to some A380-themed souvenirs.

Antonoaldo Neves, the Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, says, “We’re excited to once again welcome guests onboard Etihad’s A380s and step into a truly remarkable experience. Whether our guests are choosing to fly in Economy, Business, First or our three-room suite in the sky The Residence, this aircraft provides an elevated flying experience which we take extreme pride in.

“The aircraft adds much-needed capacity connecting Abu Dhabi with London Heathrow and allows us to build our network and increase frequencies across the network. With a surge in demand for travel over the summer, the return of our much-loved A380 comes at the perfect time.”

Guests flying with Economy are greeted on board in a dedicated welcome area. The Economy cabin features 68 Economy Space seats offering an additional 4 inches in legroom, and 337 Economy Smart seats that come with Etihad’s signature fixed-wing headrest and large pillows for added comfort.

70 Business Studios are available on Etihad’s A380 upper deck, granting privacy to its customers. Here guests can enjoy access to The Lobby, a serviced lounge and bar area located between the First and Business cabins. There are also nine First Apartments, each featuring a private living space to choose from with exquisite amenities.

And finally, the Residence is the world’s only three-room suite in the sky with guests able to enjoy service and hospitality from a dedicated team of Etihad cabin crew. It can now be booked on etihad.com, by selecting a First class ticket and then choosing to upgrade to The Residence with prices starting from 2,500 USD per person, one way. 

Etihad’s A380 aircraft will operate on the Abu Dhabi – London route on flights EY19 and EY20 from 1 August. Etihad’s A380s will connect people between the UK, the UAE and onwards across the Etihad network.