Etihad Airways enhances US operations in 2016

United Arab Emirates national airline Etihad Airways said it has made equipment changes on two key markets in 2016.

Currently the UAE´s national carrier operates leased Jet Airways Boeing 777-300ER aircraft for its daily flight to and from San Francisco. These aircraft will be replaced with Etihad Airways Boeing 777-200LRs from April 25, 2016.

The daily EY101 flight from Abu Dhabi to New York´s JFK airport and the return EY100 service will also see leased Jet Airways Boeing 777-300ER aircraft replaced by Etihad Airways Boeing 777-300ERs from June 1, 2016.

The second daily Etihad Airways service to and from New York JFK, EY103 and EY102, will continue to be operated with the airline´s flagship A380 aircraft in 2016.

The Etihad Airways Boeing 777-200LR to be deployed on the San Francisco route will be configured to carry 239 guests in three cabins, with eight First Class seats, 40 Business Class seats and 191 Economy Class seats.

The Boeing 777-300ER to be deployed by Etihad Airways on the New York route will be configured to carry 328 guests also in three cabins, with eight First Class seats, 40 Business Class seats, and 280 Economy Class seats.

All Etihad Airways guests flying to the United States pass through US Preclearance at Abu Dhabi Airport meaning they clear US immigration and customs before boarding their flight and arriving in America as domestic passengers.

Etihad Airways offers a new premium lounge for First and Business Class guests to enjoy once they have passed through US Preclearance in Abu Dhabi.

Etihad Airways currently operates double daily to New York JFK, a daily service to Chicago, daily to Washington DC, daily to Los Angeles LAX, daily to San Francisco, and three flights a week to Dallas-Fort Worth. The airline opened a new flagship premium lounge in New York last year.

Etihad Airways began operations in 2003, and in 2014 carried 14.8 million passengers. From its Abu Dhabi base, Etihad Airways flies to or has announced plans to serve 116 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas.