The Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft recently landed at the Abu Dhabi International Airport after a direct from Boeing’s construction airport in Washington State, USA. The arrival of the new aircraft signaled a defining moment in Etihad’s history. Several senior Ethihad and Boeing executives were on board the airlines’ first twin-aisle aircraft including Sheikh Ahmad Bin Saif Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Civil aviation and Etihad Airways, Lee Monson, Vice President of Sales for the Middle-East and Africa, and John Craig, President, Boeing Middle-East.
The new Boeing 777-300 ER offers customers some special features including mood lighting and high-speed wireless internet access through all zones. They can also send or receive email, including those with large attachments using the advanced ‘Connexions by Boeing’ system. They will be able to browse the internet in exactly the same way they would at home, and also securely access company intranet and business applications. This is a two-zone aircraft with a total capacity of 378 seats, 350 in the Coral Zone and 28 in the Pearl Zone. Customers will be able to access 30 movies, 16 hours ofTV programming, 24 hours audio programming, 25 audio CD’s, and 26 Interactive Games.
Comfort has also been enhanced and the seating in Pearl zone has been arranged into individual cabins, configured 1-2-1, and can transform into a 6’1″ bed. Coral seats are configured 3-3-3 across and ample spacing is provided with up to a 33″ seat pitch between the seats. Etihad has made history by placing an order worth USD 8bn for new aircraft within the first two years of operation. As well as purchasing the five Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft, Etihad has also ordered 24 Airbus aircraft-four A340-500s, four A340-600s, 12 A330-200s and four double Decker A380s.
