Aviation

Etihad Launches first commercial flight from UAE to Israel

Etihad Launches first commercial flight from UAE to Israel: Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), today launched its flight service between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv. Additionally, UAE added Israel to its “Green List”, giving quarantine-free travel for visitors arriving in UAE from Israel.

The launch of flight is the base of the next historic step in developing diplomatic, trade and tourism ties between UAE and Israel. It is the part of the Abraham Accords agreement.

#UAE‘s @etihad Airways inaugurates all-new #AbuDhabi-Tel Aviv route. Another step in the growing relations between the two countries. ??✈️?? https://t.co/5qONmt3M5g pic.twitter.com/YC29Aoqgop

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) April 6, 2021

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 flight EY598, the first direct commercial flight which took 3 hours and 20 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport to Ben Gurion International Airport, took to the skies this morning (Tuesday) at 10:05 (UAE time) and landed at Ben Gurion Airport at 12:30 (Israel time). On board the flight was a diplomatic and economic delegation representing the UAE. The delegation includes H.E. Mohamed Al-Khaja, UAE’s first Ambassador to Israel, Eitan Nae’eh, Israel’s Head of Mission to the UAE, and Tony Douglas, Etihad’s Group CEO.

تغمرني عواطف جياشة وانا على متن اول رحلة تدشنها شركة طيران الاتحاد الاماراتية بين ابو ظبي وإسرائيل. هذا فصل تاريخي إضافي في نسيج العلاقات المتنامية بين البلدين@uaeinisrael @etihad, @gulfjewish @lalshareef, @hend_mana @emiratestrans @Dralsarrah @kaisos1987 pic.twitter.com/wDXfB6o2JO

— Eitan Na’eh (@AmbassadorNaeh) April 6, 2021

The flight received with the traditional water cannon salute. A welcome reception followed, with speeches given by the UAE’s Ambassador to Israel, Etihad’s Group CEO, and Shmuel Zakay, CEO, Ben Gurion International Airport.

The route will be operated by one of Etihad’s flagship aircraft, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. With 290 seats – 28 Business studios and 262 Economy smart seats, the Dreamliner features Etihad’s renowned e-box entertainment system and in flight wi-fly connectivity network.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

British Airways Unveils Its Brand-New First Class Cabin for the Airbus A380

This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

Etihad Airways Unveils 10 Exciting New Routes for 2025

In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.