Etihad Airways Brings Back the Airbus A380!

In December 2022, Etihad Airways has announced that it planned to return the Airbus A380 into service in 2023. Today, the airline operated its first flight with the super jumbo jet since the pandemic, with flight EY 11 touching down in London in the early morning.

This represents the return of an incredibly exciting opportunity for using Aeroplan points, as Etihad Airways’s A380 offers the highly aspirational First Class Apartments, complete with a shower in the sky.

Etihad Airways A380 Flies to London

After over three years of being grounded, Etihad Airways has started to return its A380 jets into service, beginning with flights between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and London Heathrow (LHR). One aircraft is currently operating flights as of July 25, a second is set to come into service on August 1, 2023, and a third is set to return by November 1, 2023.

London is a natural choice for the first destination for the return of the Airbus A380s, given that it’s always been one of Etihad’s flagship routes with the highest demand for premium cabins.

Although subject to change of course, Etihad currently operates four flights per day to London, with departures every few hours beginning at 2:05am. 

There’s a mix of daytime and red-eye flights in both directions, and it’s best to book a daytime departure if you’d like to stay awake and enjoy all that Etihad Airways A380 First Class has to offer.

And what an offering it is…

What’s Etihad Airways’s Onboard Product Like?

Let’s cut to the chase: Etihad Airways A380 First Class offers one of the most mind-blowing First Class products in the sky: the First Class “Apartment” complete with a separate chair and bed.

In a 1-1 configuration onboard the largest plane in the sky, each First Class suite offers unparalleled space with a full-length bed, a swivelling TV, and an opportunity to shower in the sky.

Business class isn’t too shabby, either, offering Etihad Airways’s Business Studio, with a mix of forward- and backward-facing seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. It’s identical to the business class seat on the Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

Forward-facing seats are closer to the window, and forward-facing seats are also closer together in the middle, making each the ideal choice for solo travellers and couples, respectively.

When it comes to the best way to book…