Etihad Airways

[User0001]

Etihad are to make Manchester Airport its European headquarters.

All the back office work at all of its European airports (CDG, FRA, LHR, DUB, DUS, MXP, BRU, GVA, HHN, IST and SVO), will be relocated to Manchester, creating 100 jobs within 18 months.

They are also bringing forward the plans to add a 3rd and 4th daily flight, happening as early as 2 years, with First class being introduced.

Seems Etihad really do have a love affair with Manchester!

 

[TheLocalYokel]

What are the timings for Etihad to/from Abu Dhabi at the moment, and what are the aircraft types - presumably two-class at present from your comment about first class being introduced later?

So MAN can look forward to 4 x daily Etihad and 3 x daily Emirates and 2 x daily Qatar to the Middle East.

Slightly off topic but what aircraft types do the the other airline use? I seem to remember that Emirates is upgrading its service.

 

[User0001]

What are the timings for Etihad to/from Abu Dhabi at the moment, and what are the aircraft types - presumably two-class at present from your comment about first class being introduced later

Currently served with 2x A330-200 in the 2 class layout, although we seem to have had the 3 class A330-300 appear quite a few times recently.

EY15/16 0655/0925
EY20/21 1455/2105

So MAN can look forward to 4 x daily Etihad and 3 x daily Emirates and 2 x daily Qatar to the Middle East

Current plans stated by the airlines are:

Emirates 4 x daily in 2013 (Early afternoon arrival, late afternoon departure similar to that of EK29/30 LHR)
Etihad 3x daily 2012/2013, 4 x daily 2014
Qatar no change at present.

Slightly off topic but what aircraft types do the the other airline use? I seem to remember that Emirates is upgrading its service.

Emirates

EK21/22 uses 3 class A330-200 at present, upgrades to 3 class B777-300 1/6/12
EK17/18 uses 3 class A380.
EK19/20 uses 2 class B77W, but upgrades to 3 class B77W on 1/9/12

Etihad

Both flights currently use 2 class A330-200, but, with F class means the flights could upgrade to 3 class A330-300 or 3 class A340-600. The B77W fleet is only in a 2 class layout, but, is currently fully utilised to LHR/BKK and others.

Qatar

Currently use a 2 class A330-200 on QR41/42, and 2 class A330-300 on QR45/46.
The QR41/42 is being reduced by 4 flights from March 25th until October 27th, due to pilot/aircraft shortages. But, the flight will use a B787-800 from 5th September on the 3 weekly flights before increasing to a daily B787 from 27th October 2012.

Manchester incidentally will be the first long haul route for the Qatar Airways B787-800.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Thanks for that user001.

Our daughter and her family, who now live near Melbourne, used Etihad from Manchester (they lived in Cheshire then) on a 'recce' trip to Oz three years ago. They were impressed with the service they received.

Last November my wife and I were at Melbourne Tullamarine for a late evening departure to the UK via Dubai with Emirates when the aircraft parked next to our B777-300ER was an Etihad A340 that left ahead of us for Abu Dhabi. It's an impressive looking machine.

We're settled with Emirates at the moment but Etihad and Qatar are the other two airlines we've been looking at. Manchester might be a touch too far (we live in the West Country) though we wouldn't rule it out (three hours on the train), but it depends on what's on offer. Emirates will offer very good deals at certain times when, for whatever reason, they are pushing a particular airport.

Incidentally, I read that Qatar are phasing out first class on some existing aircraft and won't feature it on new aircraft except for the A380. Then again, many say that Qatar's business product is as good, perhaps better, than some airlines' first class.

 

[User0001]

Etihad are going to have quite a few equipment changes on the EY21/22 evening flight from now on.

The flight has 6 hours down time at MAN, so, with a line maintenance facility and the new Euro headquarters, the aircraft are having basic fixes at MAN between flights.

B77W A6-ETA was a visitor a few weeks ago, and A330-300 A6-AFA (in purple AUH colours) was a visitor on Monday.

The equipment changes are not 'scheduled' until a few days before the flight (obviously its an 'as and when' situation), but, equipment could be the A330-200, A330-300, A340-500, A340-600 and B777-300ER.

One to look out for if you like your widebodies.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Are all Etihad aircraft fitted out with the latest interiors and seating?

Emirates is a bit mixed in our experience and the new is far better than the old.

Fortunately, we've only experienced the older style on two occasions - on 2-class B777s between BHX and DXB - still perfectly acceptable but not as good as the new.

 

[User0001]

Etihad seems to have a 'standard' fitting.

The A330-200's and B777-300ER's are fitted with just Pearl business and Coral economy.

The A330-300 and A340-500/600 are fitted with Diamond first, then Pearl and coral.

Manchester is going 3 daily with F class next year, to compete head on with Emirates.

The morning EY15/16 will be an A340-500/600 mix.

The evening flight is pencilled to be an A330-300, but Ive also seen the A340-600 banded around.

Then, there will be the following flight:

EY27 AUH 0750 MAN 1455 A330-300 MTWTFSS
EY28 MAN 1435 AUH 0215 A330-300 MTWTFSS

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Many thanks, user001.

Quite a variety.

 

[User0001]

Etihad have upgraded the EY21/22 afternoon flight to the B777-300ER until 25th Jan to cope with Christmas demand.

They will then re-introduce the B777-300ER permanently from 1st July onwards, which is now bookable online.

 

[User0001]

Etihad will now upgrade both daily flights to the larger B77W from 2nd June.

The original plan was to upgrade the evening flight. This represents an over 50% increase in seats on the route.

 

[User0001]

Etihad have brought forward the upgrade of the EY21/22. It was supposed to start 2nd June, but will now start tomorrow instead. Must have pretty strong sales for such an urgent upgrade!

 

[thunderchild]

No doubt they've brought in most of Etihads senior management team and families to see if Man City can win the title!

 

[Hassaan]

I'm flying from MAN using Etihad this summer. First time flying the airline, and first time flying from MAN too. Will be an interesting one.

 

[User0001]

Until 30th September, Etihad are using and selling a full first class cabin on their EY21/22 flight. This is a trial in view to making First a permanent feature on MAN flights, which will be from February 2015.

Also, Etihad had loaded MAN-AUH as an A332 on the morning and B77W on the evening flight for winter 2014/15, but now have loaded a full 2xB77W schedule.

This means MAN now has 4 airlines offering a full first class cabin service.

 

[Manniashraf]

This means MAN now has 4 airlines offering a full first class cabin service.[/quote]

Great news! Also just a quick question who are the 4 airlines..? :drinks:

 

[User0001]

Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Saudia and now Etihad.

 

[Manniashraf]

Etihad a340-600 was in this mornings flight! Apparently went 98% full and came in 84% percent full. Good news for etihad!!

 

[User0001]

Sure was an A340-600. A6-EHL.

First class was fully booked both ways!

 

[andyc941]

Yes was shocked to see a A340 this morning. Anyone seen pictures of their new colour sceme ?

 

[Ray Finkle]

Malaysia Airlines will code share with Etihad from 25th May.

Malaysia Airlines to place MH code on ETIHAD service to Cairo from 18MAY15, Johannesburg and Manchester from 25MAY15

From airline routes.