More news spilling out from the Arabian Travel Market, with Etihad unveiling a new business class seat.
This time, this seat is for the Boeing 787-9 fleet the airline operates, with the new interior being installed in the aircraft that will join the fleet in the third quarter of this year adding to the 39 Dreamliners Etihad already operates.
The new seat is by Collins Aerospace – based on the Elements seating product, which the airline has customised to its own specification. Etihad is the first airline in the world to introduce the Elements seat on the Boeing 787.
The new seats will provide passengers with a comfortable and spacious environment with added privacy provided by a suite door. The height of the suite has been further increased from the A350’s debut model, offering even greater privacy for guests.
Each of the 32 Business seats has direct aisle access with the cabin designed in a 1-2-1 configuration offering comfort, convenience and privacy whether travelling individually or with companions.
The seats recline to a fully lie-flat-bed 78” in length and feature a 17.3” 4K TV screen, featuring Bluetooth headphone pairing, multiple charging ports and wireless charging, as well as plenty of storage.
Meanwhile, in Economy Class, the newest 787 will feature 271 seats which are lighter in weight than the current fleet and more fuel efficient.
The seats boast comfort and an increased feeling of space created by the smart design and adjustments including a slimmer profile armrest.
Passengers can also enjoy an extensive range of entertainment on the 13.3” 4K touch-screen monitor which also includes a convenient USB charging port.
Collins Aerospace again is providing the seating for this installation.
Passenger Experience upgrades too
It seems that Eithad has selected the Safran RAVE IFE Platform for its new Boeing 787. They will feature the Rave Ultra 4K monitors, Bluetooth headphone pairing and the option to pair personal phones and tablets to the screen and use as a remote. This will be deployed was Etihad E-BOX, providing passengers with content.
For those seeking to be connected in the sky, Etihad will use a new solution from Viasat using Ka-band technology to offer high-speed Wi-Fi with streaming capabilities on board as well as Live TV, including news and sports channels. Eithad has recently rolled out new pricing packages and a free “chat” level providing you signed up to their frequent flyer programme before your flight. The free Chat packages provide access to popular messaging apps such as What’s App, WeChat, Messenger and more
In Quotes
Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways.
“Etihad’s new 787 Dreamliner cabin interior showcases further enhancements to our award-winning and industry renowned cabins. Our new Business class takes the guest experience to new heights with the second evolution of the Business Studio which was launched on the Airbus A350-1000 last year,”
He adds:
We remain fully committed to providing industry-leading experiences for our guests and we’re proud to showcase this here at the Arabian Travel Market. This year is about growth for Etihad – as well as enhancing our guest experience and adding aircraft to our fleet, we’ve announced new routes for our network, including Kolkata last month, Lisbon, Malaga and Mykonos this summer and Copenhagen and Dusseldorf in the fourth quarter.”
A Step Upwards… But a lot denser
It’s always welcoming to see upgrades in the cabin – both in business and economy class. For passengers who prefer privacy, suites with doors will always be welcome, along with a new generation of business class seating.
Although there is a concern – with Etihad planning to operate with 32 seats in business class, compared to the current 28 seats in a two-class Boeing 787-9 – indicating one row extra of seats being fitted. Depending on the configuration, that could mean either less room somewhere.
In addition, Economy Class gains an extra row of seats – going up from 262 to 271 seats – or nine seats. In most 787 configurations, that’s an extra row of seats.
It’ll be interesting to see the seat layout and where the space savings have been made to accommodate this.
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