Both Emirates and Etihad Airways are making significant strides in their growth strategies, with major fleet upgrades and new aircraft set to enhance the passenger experience and expand their global networks in the coming months.
Emirates Rolls Out Refurbished A380s and Boeing 777s to New Cities
Emirates is introducing refurbished Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 aircraft to eight new cities, enhancing its service with upgraded cabins. The airline will roll out its refreshed A380s to destinations including Bangkok, Hong Kong, Nice, and Perth, while the upgraded Boeing 777s will fly to Madrid, Kuala Lumpur, Phuket, Frankfurt, and Dublin.
The airline’s ongoing retrofit programme, which has been advancing rapidly since its launch in November 2022, aims to complete an update on one wide-body aircraft every three weeks. By the end of this year, Emirates will have advanced its cabin improvements, focusing particularly on introducing its new Premium Economy seats, offering a more luxurious experience to travellers.
The airline is committed to offering premium experiences across over 70 cities worldwide, with plans to solidify its leadership in Premium Economy deployment over the next two years.
Additionally, Emirates will receive its first long-range A350 later this year, debuting on flights to Adelaide starting December 1.
Etihad Airways Expands Fleet and Routes
Meanwhile, UAE’s flag carrier Etihad Airways has launched its new Airbus A321LR aircraft, a key step in its strategy to double its fleet and triple passenger numbers by 2030. The new aircraft will bring Etihad’s luxury experience to shorter and medium-haul flights, with the introduction of the First Suite, private luxury spaces that are typically available only on long-haul aircraft. These suites, available in limited numbers on each plane, will offer high-end service on more routes, elevating the airline’s premium offering.
The first Airbus A321LR is set to begin flying on August 1 and connect Abu Dhabi with key destinations including Athens, Bangkok, Milan, Riyadh, and Zurich..
The new A321LR aircraft will make luxury air travel more accessible to passengers on shorter routes, as part of Etihad’s broader effort to expand its market reach.
