Etihad Airways’ latest Boeing 787 destination was launched on 30th October when the aircraft touched down in Riyadh, capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – part of an effort to increase capacity on the fast-growing Abu Dhabi-Riyadh route. Etihad Airways currently operates 14 weekly non-stop flights to and from Riyadh.
The occasion was marked with an official welcome ceremony attended by the airline’s senior management led by Hareb Almuhairy, Etihad Airways Senior VP Corporate and International Affairs, together with Mohammad Al Bulooki, Etihad Airways VP UAE and GCC Commercial, Sultan AL Mansoori, GCC Country Manager, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, and Adel Al Ragadi, Terminal Operation Manager, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
The aircraft features a two-class configuration – 28 “Business Studios”, each providing aisle access and equipped with an in-seat massage and air cushion control system, and 271 Economy Smart Seats with “fixed wing” headrests. The aircraft operates on one of the twice-daily flights between Abu Dhabi International Airport and Khalid International Airport.
Riyadh becomes Etihad Airways’ newest 787 destination this year following the induction of the aircraft on flights to Perth, Dusseldorf and Shanghai, with Abu Dhabi – Johannesburg set to become a Dreamliner route on 1 November. Etihad Airways’ current fleet of nine 787s also operates to Singapore, Washington DC, Brisbane and Zurich.
The aircraft is equipped with full mobile and Wi-Fi services as well as the latest Panasonic eX3 in-flight entertainment system featuring seven satellite channels of live TV.
Etihad Airways’ flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, Medina and Dammam are complemented by Saudi codeshare partner flynas, which offers dedicated services between Abu Dhabi and both Riyadh and Jeddah.