Etihad Airways Launches Daily Non-Stop B787-9 Flights to Brisbane

Etihad Airways has launched daily non-stop flights between Brisbane and Abu Dhabi.

Etihad Airways flight EY484 departs the airline’s home base of Abu Dhabi, at 22:00 to arrive in Brisbane at 17:50.

The return flight EY485 departs Brisbane for Abu Dhabi at 21:35 to land in Abu Dhabi at 06:00 local time.

The new non-stop flights are operated by Etihad Airways’ brand new three-class Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner which features the airline’s new First Suite, Business Studio and Economy Smart Seat.

The Dreamliner flights offer First Class on the Brisbane – Abu Dhabi route for the first time ever and will replace the daily one-stop services which the airline previously operated via Singapore with a two-class Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

“The commencement of daily non-stop Dreamliner services enables us to offer our strongest ever customer proposition on the Brisbane – Abu Dhabi route and represents a significant investment in the Queensland market,” said Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer, James Hogan. “By retiming our Brisbane-Abu Dhabi flights with evening departures in both directions and removing the stop in Singapore, we can now offer guests the convenience of shorter travel times and two-way connectivity to more than 30 destinations in the GCC, Middle East, Africa and Europe.”

Etihad Airways’ new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will carry 235 guests – eight in First Class, 28 in Business Class and 199 in Economy Class.

First Class on the 787-9 Dreamliner features an enhanced suite with a chilled mini-bar, complete privacy and centre seats which can be joined to create a double bed.

Business Class passengers will have the space and comfort of the airline’s new Business Studios – each offering direct aisle access and a fully flat bed of up to 80.5 inches in length.

In the Economy Class cabin, the innovative Economy Smart Seat provides enhanced comfort with a unique ‘fixed wing’ headrest on each seat.

Julieanne Alroe, Brisbane Airport Corporation CEO and Managing Director, said the arrival of Etihad Airways’ 787-9 Dreamliner was an exciting milestone for Brisbane.

“These new aircraft arrivals will always go down in history as significant moments in aviation and we are delighted Etihad Airways’ has committed one of its first 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft between Brisbane and Abu Dhabi. We’re proud of our long standing partnership with Etihad Airways that spans more than seven years and the new direct route and upgraded aircraft confirms Etihad Airways’ commitment to Brisbane and Queensland,” Ms Alroe said.

Etihad Airways codeshares on Virgin Australia flights from Brisbane to Bundaberg, Cairns Cloncurry, Emerald, Gladstone, Hamilton Island, Hervey Bay, Mackay, Moranbah, Mount Isa, Proserpine, Rockhampton and Townsville.

Passengers who travel with Etihad Airways and Virgin Australia are offered the convenience of a single ticket purchase, through-checked baggage and convenient flight connections.