For those of us who love the double-decker whalejet, Etihad Airways is planning to operate an Airbus A380 on its Abu Dhabi – Bangkok route from late October.
The aircraft will operate on Etihad’s evening daily service between Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, further strengthening connectivity between Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe as the airline adds capacity ahead of the busy winter season
As noted, the A380 will operate on the airline’s evening flight. Timings are as follows:
EY402 DEPART AUH 21:10 ARRIVE BKK 06:35+1 EY403 DEPART BKK 08:30 ARRIVE AUH 12:20 Commences 29th October 2026 Operates Daily Booked Equipment: Etihad Airbus A380
Etihad’s Airbus A380 features 337 Economy seats, 68 Economy Space Seats (offering 4″ of extra legroom), 70 Business class seats, 9 First Class “Apartments” and, of course, the jewel in the crown – The Residence, offering three rooms and able to accommodate two passengers.
This service replaces the existing Boeing 777-300ER service that currently operates.
In Quotes
Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, Etihad Airways, said:
“We’ve seen huge excitement around where our next A380 would fly – and Bangkok has been one of the most requested destinations. It’s a city that blends energy, culture and world-class hospitality, making it the perfect match for our flagship aircraft.
“The A380 transforms the journey into part of the holiday itself. From The Residence – the world’s only three-room suite in the sky – and our private First Apartments, to the spacious Business lie-flat seats and thoughtfully enhanced Economy cabin, every guest experiences something special onboard.
“With the A380 flying to Bangkok, we’re offering greater choice and significant additional capacity on one of our most popular leisure routes. Guests can immerse themselves in Thailand’s beaches and vibrant city life, or choose to extend their trip with a stopover in Abu Dhabi – turning one holiday into two and discovering everything our home city has to offer.”
Return of the WhaleJet
Etihad had originally limited itself to how many A380 aircraft it would bring back, keeping them for trunk routes. It appears that the plan has evolved, with Etihad serving London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Singapore, Toronto (replacing the New York flight), and Tokyo-Narita in the summer plans.
With eight aircraft now in active fleet (from the original 10 Airbus A380s ordered), Eithad is strengthening capacity on core network destinations, as well as adding new ones where the capacity will be helpful.
Again, it proves that on the right route, the A380 has benefits.
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