Etihad Airways have long been renowned for their luxurious in-flight offering, boasting some of the most luxurious seats in the sky the world has ever seen. This week, they continued this run of premium form when they unveiled their new business-class Dreamliner seats to an eager public...
Etihad Airways – the national airline of the United Arab Emirates that recently let its top-of-the-line business seats sell for a meagre $150 each due to a major tech glitch – has revealed a suite of seats and new interiors for its Boeing 787 Dreamliners, set to join their fleet in the third quarter of this year.
The unveiling took place at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai this week, with the airline’s CEO, Antonoaldo Neves, saying the new Business class “takes the guest experience to new heights”.
WATCH: Just wait until you see Etihad's first-class offer...
The new Business cabin features a customised version of the 'Elements' seat, as manufactured by Collins, with added privacy provided by a sliding suite door, a feature we're seeing in business seats more and more often across the industry.
Etihad has gone to special lengths to ensure a premium feel in these new cabins by fully rolling out their unique partnership with Armani and Casa, which sees bespoke dining ware and luxurious soft furnishings, all designed in collaboration with the celebrated international brands, across the cabin.
The new business configuration allows for maximum privacy and convenience. Image: Etihad
The cabin has also been designed in a 1-2-1 configuration, with each of the 32 seats offering direct aisle access, a fully lie-flat bed and 17.3” 4K TV screen. On top of this, they connectivity options galore: Bluetooth headphone pairing, multiple charging ports, wireless charging, and ample storage space are all on offer.
In Economy, the newest 787 will feature 271 seats that are lighter and more fuel-efficient than the current fleet, as well as boasting exceptional comfort and an increased feeling of space... Does an increased "feeling" of space actually equate to more space? This remains to be seen...
Regardless, economy flyers are also replete with all the tech they need for a relaxing flight: an extensive range of entertainment on the 13.3” 4K touch-screen monitor is available, as is a highly convenient USB charging port.
The new economy seats look great.. but will they feel as spacious as they seem? Image: Etihad
The standout feature of these overhauled cabins is the new inflight entertainment technology that the Dreamliner can offer. Rave Ultra 4K monitors, Bluetooth headphone pairing and the option to pair personal phones and tablets to the screen which can then be used as a remote will all feel like significant steps forward for flyers.
They're also kitted out with a new connectivity solution from Viasa: using Ka-band technology, the Dreamliners offer high-speed Wi-Fi with streaming capabilities on board, as well as live TV that includes all the news and sports channels you could ask for.
Sustainability is rightly at the forefront of the industry's concerns, and so it's promising to see that Etihad’s new Economy dining service is part of a closed-loop recycling system, thereby creating a circular economy that removes single-use plastic entirely.
Entertainment tech is the standout feature of this new offering. Image: Etihad
The airline's CEO went on to say that they "remain fully committed to providing industry-leading experiences for our guests", before detailing the new routes that have been announced across the network including (but not limited to) Kolkata, Lisbon, Malaga, Mykonos, Copenhagen and Dusseldorf.
Safe to say, Etihad doesn't want its reputation as one of the most premium airlines out there to slip anytime soon. These newly designed seats, especially in business, could once again be seen as industry leaders in terms of style and comfort.
If only they were still going for $150 a pop...
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