Etihad Airways has placed its first Airbus A350-1000 into service almost three years after the jet had been handed over to the carrier.
The jet, A6-XWB (c/n 290), was at the time of writing, operating flight EY37 between Abu Dhabi and Paris Charles de Gaulle.
It is the first of five set to join the UAE flag carrier over the coming months, and the type’s inaugural service coincides with the airline rolling out its new ‘Sustainability50’ programme on which it is partnering with Airbus and Rolls-Royce to drive operational efficiencies and bolster decarbonisation efforts.
Tony Douglas, Etihad Group CEO, said: “The Airbus A350 is an absolutely incredible aircraft, and we are proud to introduce it into [our] network today. Our teams have worked closely together to craft a product and travel proposition that will ensure every journey with Etihad is a choice well made – both for our guests and for the planet. With highly efficient fuel consumption and CO₂ savings, the A350 will support our goals to reduce carbon emissions and deliver an unmatched flight experience for our guests.”
Initially, the new A350-1000s will be deployed on a number of short to mid-range routes in Q2, including Mumbai and Delhi, before being introduced on ultra-long-haul operations to Chicago and New York from July.
We’ll be able to tell you more about whether the A350-1000 is an evolution or a revolution for Etihad in our access all areas feature on the airline which will be appearing in the June issue of Airliner World, on sale May 12
