Etihad’s Airbus A380 — and the unique Residence — is formally again within the US

Etihad Airways’ superjumbo — and essentially the most unique cabin in industrial aviation — is as soon as once more flying to the U.S.

On Monday, the Abu Dhabi-based service resumed Airbus A380 service to New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK). Etihad Flight 1 landed at JFK a bit not on time at 9:59 a.m., marking a significant milestone for the airline because it charts a brand new path forward from the depths of the pandemic.

“Etihad made me really feel very welcome, similar to I used to be flying within the Residence 10 years in the past,” mentioned Gino Bertuccio, the passenger who splurged over $10,000 to take a seat in Etihad’s Residence on the (re)inaugural flight Monday.

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(Bertuccio is not any stranger to flying within the Residence. He is flown it six occasions, together with on Etihad’s Airbus A380 inaugural again in 2014. In complete, he says he is flown on an A380 a whopping complete of 116 occasions.)

Bertuccio and his entourage, which included the prolific Lays Laraya (recognized on social media as @freakwentflyer), have been welcomed by a handful of members of the media at Etihad’s not too long ago reopened JFK lounge (which debuted in partnership with Chase).

Included within the manifest of passengers who had simply arrived from Abu Dhabi have been airline CEO Antonoaldo Neves and Dr. Nadia Bastaki, the service’s chief human assets, organizational improvement and asset administration officer.

“This can be a main second for Etihad,” mentioned Bastaki, in regards to the return of the A380.

When the pandemic hit, Etihad despatched its fleet of 10 Airbus A380s into long-term storage. Some aviation observers thought these planes could be completely retired, however the airline introduced them again final summer time for service to London.

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It was solely a matter of time earlier than they might come again to New York, Bastaki defined, given the town’s prominence as one of many key gateways in Etihad’s community of over 70 locations.

Now, simply over 4 years because the outset of the pandemic, Etihad has 4 A380s within the skies, with three extra on their method again into service. They’re flying as soon as every day to New York, in addition to two occasions a day to London. (The service was mum about the place the A380 would fly to subsequent, however one other vacation spot is anticipated to be introduced quickly.)

In New York, Etihad is now flying the A380 with the next schedule:

• Flight 2 from New York to Abu Dhabi: Departs at 2:30 p.m. and arrives at 11:30 a.m. the following 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 proceed flying a second every day frequency to New York on board the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.)

The double-decker A380 would not simply signify an enormous capability improve on considered one of Etihad’s key routes, but it surely additionally brings a jumbo improve to the passenger expertise for flyers in all cabins, particularly these with the deepest pockets.

That is as a result of Etihad A380s function the so-called Residence product, which is actually a three-room personal cabin on the entrance of the first-class part.

The Residence is essentially the most unique cabin in industrial aviation, and it provides as much as two passengers an extra-spacious suite, a non-public bed room and a non-public toilet with a bathe. No different product — not even Emirates’ game-changer firstclass — comes near providing as a lot privateness and area as Etihad’s Residence.

Earlier than the pandemic, Etihad curated an elevated expertise for individuals who dropped tens of 1000’s of {dollars} to fly within the Residence. This included a non-public lounge in Abu Dhabi, a particular onboard menu tailored to your dietary preferences and restrictions, and a private butler devoted to serving you.

However these days, the airline has largely scaled again a lot of the Residence’s “smooth product.” Whereas the bodily suite stays, the bottom and onboard service largely resemble what passengers ought to count on in firstclass.

That mentioned, to rejoice the return of Etihad’s A380 to New York, Bertuccio obtained very particular service, together with a customized embroidered Armani pillow case, pajamas and even lifetime Platinum elite membership within the service’s Etihad Visitor loyalty program.

(Earlier than you suppose Etihad could roll out the identical pink carpet for you, Bertuccio’s lifetime worth to Etihad is fairly astounding. He was flying the Residence proper again to Abu Dhabi on the primary eastbound A380 flight from New York since 2020.)

As a substitute of promoting the Residence as a separate cabin prefer it did when the product was first unveiled, the service has as an alternative moved to a mannequin whereby any first-class passenger can improve to the Residence by paying a (expensive) seat project price.

Commonplace one-way Residence improve costs on the New York route are $4,520 per individual — on high of the price of a first-class ticket. That is actually cheaper than the $30,000 this flight would’ve value in 2014, but it surely nonetheless maintains the exclusivity of the product for the wealthy and well-known.

Personally, I’ve by no means flown within the Residence, however I received to tour it as soon as once more on the bottom in New York. The quantity of non-public area is just unmatched — it is greater than some studio residences in Manhattan.

The excellent news is that even for individuals who do not splurge for the Residence, the return of the A380 brings a noteworthy improve to the passenger expertise. The A380 options 9 “Residences,” Etihad’s finest first-class product.

These Residences additionally provide loads of private area, together with a reclining chair and a separate mattress. Two Residences may even be mixed right into a double suite.

In enterprise class, vacationers can take pleasure in one of many 70 lie-flat “Studio” pods. Seats alternate between forward- and rear-facing, with a handful of various configuration choices relying in your journey model and desire. (Personally, I would select a forward-facing window suite if I have been flying solo on Etihad’s A380.)

The jumbo jet even options an onboard bar, dubbed “The Foyer,” the place first- and business-class passengers can loosen up through the 14-hour flight.

The A380 additionally options 415 economy-class seats. Etihad would not provide a premium economic system cabin.

Given the arrival delay, I did not get an opportunity to tour the economic system cabin, however in any case, the true spotlight is what’s sitting above, on the higher deck.

The world’s most unique cabin in industrial aviation is again within the U.S., and it certainly marks a significant milestone for Etihad’s community.

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