Summary Etihad Airways will launch an Airbus A380 service to Mumbai for 4 months starting in September 2024. Three weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Mumbai to celebrate 20 years of flying to India. Special Airbus A380-themed fares are available until August 25, offering round-trip fares for first and business class.
Etihad Airways has announced the launch of its Airbus A380 service to Mumbai as part of its 20-year celebration of flying to India. The carrier's superjumbo will operate on this route for four months, beginning on September 1, 2024. The announcement coincides with the airline reactivating more of its Airbus A380s and expanding its services throughout its route network .
Three-weekly flights To commemorate 20 years of flying to India, Etihad Airways will offer a special four-month service to Mumbai, the first Indian city served by the airline. Three weekly flights between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Mumbai (BOM) are planned. Commenting on the launch of this service, Arik De, Etihad's Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, said: "To kick off our celebrations for 20 years of service to Mumbai and India, we are thrilled to introduce our A380 on the Mumbai route.
While this iconic aircraft is typically reserved for long-haul journeys, for our 20 years of celebrations of flying to India, we will showcase the A380 on three-days a week for a period of four months." Arik De also hinted that "there is more to look forward to with Etihad set to unveil a number of exciting new partnerships and initiatives for the region across the rest of the year." To celebrate the occasion, Etihad has announced special Airbus A380-themed fares.
According to the airline, first class round-trip fares from Abu Dhabi to Mumbai are AED 8,380 and INR 190,383 from Mumbai to Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, business class round-trip fares are AED 2,380 and INR 50,381, respectively. These fares are available until August 25 for travel between September 1 and October 13, 2024.
The UAE-based airline currently offers nonstop services between Abu Dhabi and 11 Indian cities. It plans to expand further but has yet to release the details. Etihad's Airbus A380 fleet Not long ago, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways questioned whether the Airbus A380 would still fit into its fleet in the post-pandemic era.
This skepticism was shared by most A380 operators, with the exceptions of Emirates and British Airways . Nevertheless, as many carriers decided to bring the A380 back into operation, Etihad followed suit. Etihad's fleet currently consists of 10 Airbus A380 double-deckers with an average age of nine years.
According to ch-aviation data, the airline has reinstated just four of these superjumbos into active service. However, it is worth noting that Etihad reports that by early 2025, it will have a total of six Airbus A380s reactivated. The carrier's Airbus A380s can accommodate a total of 486 passengers in a four-class cabin configuration: 11 in first class, 70 in business class, 80 in economy plus, and 325 in economy class, as per ch-aviation data.
The upper deck of the A380 features 70 private Business Studios suites, designed with Armani/Casa and offering WiFi connectivity. The journey is enhanced by The Lobby lounge area, providing a refined and productive travel experience. It is considered the elite of first class cabins.
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