Abu Dhabi’s Etihad to launch Dreamliner on Tokyo route

Abu Dhabi airline Etihad Airways will launch its Boeing 787 Dreamliner on its daily route to Tokyo Narita from December 1.

The Boeing aircraft will replace Etihad’s Airbus A340 which currently operates the non-stop service.

EY878 will depart Abu Dhabi at 22.10 and arrive in Tokyo Narita at 13.05. The return flight EY871 will depart from Tokyo Narita at 21.25 to arrive in the UAE capital at 04.45.

The three-class B787 has 235 seats with eight first suites, 28 business studios and 199 economy seats.

Kevin Knight, Etihad Aviation group chief strategy and planning officer, said the upgrade to the B787 Dreamliner “reflected the importance of the Japan route and the airline’s commitment to the market.”

Etihad began operating to Japan on February 1, 2010 with five weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Nagoya, via Beijing. This increased to daily on March 30, 2014.

Tokyo Narita was added to the Japan route on March 27, 2010 with five weekly non-stop flights, going daily on March 31, 2013.

Knight said: “The B787 Dreamliner is an exceptional aircraft from an operational and guest experience perspective. “Its unique design and our innovative and stylish cabins offer a guest experience that’s superior in terms of luxury and comfort.”

The first suites on the aircraft are private living spaces with a Poltrona Frau leather-upholstered seat that coverts to a fully flat six-foot-eight-inch bed. They also feature a 24-inch LCD TV monitor, a personal wardrobe and a chilled refreshments cabinet. A professional onboard chef is also exclusive to first class.

The Dreamliner flight also features its Flying Nanny facility, as part of which one trained staff member will provide assistance to families travelling with young children.

One of Etihad’s flagship aircraft, the Dreamliner is deployed across the world to Perth, Brisbane, Singapore, Washington DC, Zurich and Düsseldorf.

In August, the aircraft was also introduced on its Shanghai route.

Read more: Etihad launches 787 Dreamliner to Shanghai

Etihad has a further 71 Boeing 787s on order.