ETIHAD Airways unveiled Sunday plans for the deployment of its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners to key Levant and Far East markets in 2017. With a phased delivery of nine Boeing 787-9s this year, they will gradually be introduced on a number of routes from the airline's Abu Dhabi hub beginning March 1. The 299-seat Dreamliners will be deployed on daily year-round scheduled services to Amman and Beirut, as well as to Beijing, Shanghai and Seoul. In addition, the 787-9 will operate seasonally to Athens during the summer months. Etihad Airways currently operates a fleet of 10 Boeing 787-9s to nine destinations – Düsseldorf, Zurich, Perth, Brisbane, Tokyo, Singapore, Riyadh, Johannesburg and Washington – from Abu Dhabi. With a further 61 Dreamliners due to be delivered over the next few years, the 787s will become Etihad Airways' flagship long-haul aircraft. Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways Chief Executive Officer, said: "Since introducing our first 787 into commercial service almost two years ago, we have enjoyed excellent feedback from guests on our ground-breaking cabin interiors that have set a benchmark for high service levels in the region and across the world. "With the additional cities joining our 787 network during 2017, we are giving more guests the opportunity to fly on our next generation aircraft." He added: "Today's travellers are increasingly looking for greater comfort, higher standards, more choice and better convenience as priorities in their decision-making and we, at Etihad Airways, are striving to meet their high expectations through innovations such as introducing new planes to the fleet and continuing to upgrade our routes." Etihad Airways' Boeing 787-9s 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 signature ‘Facets of Abu Dhabi' identity introduced by the airline during its livery relaunch in 2014.
