Etihad’s Airbus A380 – and the exclusive Residence – has officially returned to the US

Etihad Airways’ superjumbo – and the most exclusive cabin in commercial aviation – is once again flying to the US

On Monday, the carrier was based in Abu Dhabi resumption of Airbus A380 service to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Etihad Flight 1 landed at JFK slightly behind schedule at 9:59 a.m., marking a major milestone for the airline as it chart a new path forward from the depths of the pandemic.

“Etihad made me feel so welcome, like I was flying in Residence 10,” said Gino Bertuccio, a passenger who shelled out more than $10,000 to sit at Etihad’s Residence on Monday’s (re)launched flight. last year.

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(Bertuccio is no stranger to flying the Residence. He’s flown it six times, including Etihad’s inaugural Airbus A380 in 2014. In total, he says he’s flown the A380 a total of 116 times.)

Bertuccio and his entourage, including Lays Laraya (known on social networks as @freakwentflyer), was welcomed by several members of the media at the Etihad’s newly reopened JFK lounge (launched in partnership with Chase).

Among the list of passengers who have just arrived from Abu Dhabi are the airline’s CEO Antonoaldo Neves and Dr. Nadia Bastaki, the airline’s director of human resources, organizational development and asset management.

Bastaki said of the return of the A380: “This is an important moment for Etihad.

When the pandemic struck, Etihad sent its fleet of 10 Airbus A380s into long-term storage. Some aviation observers thought the planes would be scrapped forever, but the airline took them away. returned last summer to serve in London.

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It was only a matter of time before they returned to New York, Bastaki explained, as the city stands out as one of the key gateways in Etihad’s network of more than 70 destinations.

Now, just over four years since the pandemic began, Etihad has four A380s in the skies, and three more are returning to service. They fly once a day to New York and twice a day to London. (The carrier is not yet aware of the A380’s next destination, but another destination is expected to be announced soon.)

In New York, Etihad is currently operating A380 aircraft with the following schedule:

• Flight No. 2 from New York to Abu Dhabi: Departs at 2:30 p.m. and arrives at 11:30 a.m. the next day
• Flight 1 from Abu Dhabi to New York: Departs at 2:55 a.m. and arrives at 9:15 a.m.

(The airline will continue to fly a second daily frequency to New York on the flight Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.)

The double-decker A380 not only represents a major increase in capacity on one of Etihad’s main routes, but also delivers a huge upgrade in passenger experience for passengers in all cabins, especially are the chambers with the deepest pockets.

That’s because Etihad A380s feature what’s called the Residence, which is essentially a three-room private cabin at the front of first class.

The Residence is unique in the commercial aviation industry and offers up to two passengers an extremely spacious suite, private bedroom and private toilet with shower. There are no other products – not even that First class Emirates game changer — offers almost as much space and privacy as Etihad’s Residence.

Before the pandemic, Etihad curated enhanced experiences for those who spent tens of thousands of dollars to fly in residence. This includes a private lounge in Abu Dhabi, a special onboard menu tailored to your preferences and dietary restrictions, and a dedicated personal butler to serve you.

But today, the airline has scaled back much of the Residence’s “soft product.” While the facilities remain the same, service on the ground and on board is largely the same as what passengers expect in first class.

That said, to celebrate the return of Etihad’s A380 to New York, Bertuccio received a very special service, including custom-embroidered Armani pillowcases, pajamas and even personality Lifetime Platinum elite member of the carrier. Etihad loyalty program.

(Before you think Etihad might roll out the same red carpet for you, Bertuccio’s lifetime value to Etihad is quite astonishing. He flew the Residence back to Abu Dhabi on the first eastbound A380 flight from New Zealand.) York since 2020.)

Instead of selling the Residence as a separate cabin as when the product first launched, the carrier has switched to a model whereby any first class passenger can upgrade to the Residence by paying a transfer fee. seats (expensive).

The cost of a standard one-way Residential upgrade on the New York route is $4,520 per person – more than the cost of a first-class ticket. This is certainly cheaper than the $30,000 price tag this flight would have cost in 2014, but it still maintains the exclusivity of the product for the rich and famous.

I personally have never flown to the Residence, but I did get to tour it again on the ground in New York. The amount of personal space is simply unmatched – it’s larger than some studio apartments in Manhattan.

The good news is that even for those not splurging on the Residence, the return of the A380 brings a notable upgrade to the passenger experience. The A380 has nine “Apartments”, Etihad’s best first class products.

These Apartments also feature plenty of personal space, including reclining chairs and separate beds. The two apartments can even be combined into a double suite.

In business class, passengers can enjoy one of 70 lie-flat “Studio” cabins. The seats alternate between forward and rear facing, with several different configuration options depending on your travel style and preferences. (Personally, I would choose the forward-facing window row if I were flying solo on an Etihad A380.)

The jumbo jet even has an onboard bar, dubbed “The Lobby,” where first and business class passengers can relax during the 14-hour flight.

The A380 also has 415 economy class seats. Etihad does not offer premium economy.

Due to arrival delays, I didn’t get a chance to tour the economy class cabin, but after all, the real highlight is what sits up front, on the upper deck.

The world’s most exclusive cabin in commercial aviation has returned to the US and it truly marks a major milestone for Etihad’s network.

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