Etihad Airways Taken Delivery Of Its First Airbus A350 Aircraft

Etihad Airways has presented its new Airbus A350-1000, registration A6-XWB, on a special inaugural commercial trip from Abu Dhabi to Paris, marking the airline’s first commercial flight in the aircraft. The aircraft is the first A350 to be flown by an airline in the United Arab Emirates, and it is the first of five A350s that will join the airline’s fleet in the following months.

The inaugural flight from Abu Dhabi to Paris Charles de Gaulle took off at 07:30 local time with a group that included diplomatic officials, representatives from Etihad and Airbus, members of the media, business partners, and other VIPs.

“The Airbus A350 is an extremely amazing aircraft, and we are thrilled to be able to welcome it into the Etihad Airways network today,” said Tony Douglas, group chief executive officer. Etihad’s product and travel offer have been developed in close collaboration with our customers, ensuring that every trip with Etihad is a well-informed decision – both for our guests and for the environment.

The aircraft, called Sustainability50, is decked out in a one-of-a-kind livery in celebration of the UAE’s 50th anniversary as a federation, as well as the airline’s aim to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Etihad and Airbus have recently formalized their collaboration on sustainability in a variety of areas, including the promotion and commercialization of sustainable aviation fuel, waste and weight management, and the creation of data-driven analysis.

“Etihad Airways has been a long-standing partner of Airbus in the United Arab Emirates, and we are thrilled to continue our relationship,” said Mikail Houari, president, Airbus Africa and Middle East. “With a 25% decrease in fuel consumption and emissions, the A350-1000 is establishing new benchmarks in air travel. It provides unrivaled levels of operating efficiency, while also reducing emissions by 25%.”

In the UAE’s aviation industry, this signals the beginning of a bright new chapter that will be guided by innovation and a dedication to sustainability. “

“We look forward to many more years of cooperation and collaboration in order to assist Etihad Airways in expanding its network by using our most technologically sophisticated and fuel-efficient aircraft,” said the company.