Etihad Airways already operates five 787s, serving Brisbane, Washington, Singapore and Zurich from Abu Dhabi. The Johannesburg route, currently operated by an Airbus A330, will be Etihad Airways' first 787 service into Africa, offering an 18 per cent increase in capacity in both directions.
James Hogan, president and chief executive officer of Etihad Airways, said: "Beginning May next year, our new 787 Dreamliners will replace existing aircraft on our Johannesburg, Perth, Shanghai, Istanbul and Dusseldorf routes, among our most popular markets, giving guests an opportunity to fly on our next-generation aircraft."
John Friel, Etihad Airways general manager South Africa, added: "Etihad Airways has been flying the Johannesburg route since 2005 and the introduction of the Boeing 787 is a welcome development. This will see us stepping up our offering to our guests travelling this route, meeting the demand not just for increased capacity but for an elevated service offering across all cabins."
Etihad Airways' newest 787-9 aircraft will include highly-acclaimed interiors featuring 28 business studios and 271 economy smart seats, offering superior levels of comfort, entertainment and in-flight connectivity. On-board décor and lighting have been inspired by contemporary modern Arabian design, complementing the new 'facets of Abu Dhabi' design identity introduced by the airline during its livery relaunch last year. With a further 66 Boeing 787s due to be delivered over the next few years, the Dreamliner will become Etihad Airways' flagship long-haul aircraft.
