The Etihad Airways Super Jumbo A380 Jet Inaugurates a Paris-Abu Dhabi Route

On July 1, 2017, the world’s most luxurious airline Etihad flew its first Paris-Abu Dhabi and back again on one of its Airbus A380s – a plane with a ravishingly sumptuous First Class. It all started in July 2003 when Etihad Airways was founded by royal decree, with Abu Dhabi as its primary hub. The airline would soon become a leader in the sector and, in just a few years, boasted the fastest growth in the history of commercial aviation. But Etihad doesn’t stick out just for its numbers; the airline has been known for its outstanding hospitality and comfort from the very start. First came the acquisition of the latest and best in airplanes, with the A380 as a shining example. Then, a new airline model for the 21st century: defying and breaking the rules of air hospitality all while inventing new ones. Cultivated, attentive, warm, generous… Etihad’s hospitality is second to none. And the airline has a number of awards to back up this claim, notably winning “Best Airline in the World” at the World Travel Awards for five consecutive years.

In 2014, Etihad Airways definitively cemented its position as the world’s most luxurious airline by redefining First Class. Onboard the 10 A380s in the company’s possession, Etihad Airways rolled out a brand new way to travel in ultimate style: First Apartment and First Suite. The idea is simple: imagine First Class with a degree of refinement and customization never before seen. “Our new First Class Apartments and First Suites are an important step for Etihad Airways and the aviation industry globally. This marks the beginning of an exciting new era for luxury air travel. This launch is the cumulation of five years of research, conception, and implementation – with the creation of a design innovation center in Abu Dhabi bringing together three large design agencies to this effect – but also hard work that is finally bearing its fruit. The final product is superior to anything that exists on the market and closer to the offerings of the best 5 star hotels, as our guests on board our A380 and B787s will soon be able to discover,” explained Peter Baumgartner, Chief Commercial Officer for Etihad Airways.

And they were right on the mark with this new offering. On the upper deck of the Etihad Airways A380, nine First Apartments came to life. This living space came complete with a recliner and a sofa bed that’s 203 cm long when undone. All along one wing, a first as well, the First Apartments offer 74% more space than Etihad Airways’ First Class. Six of them have interconnecting doors that create apartments for guests traveling together. Even better, the First Apartments each contain a minibar, a personal dressing room, and a separate dressing table with light-up makeup mirrors, all of them overflowing with luxury products like Christian Lacroix’s First Class Amenity Kit. In shades of chocolate, cashmere, and café, the Lobby between the First and Business class cabins opens up onto a salon space and a bar furnished with leather couches, marquetry tables, and a big-screen TV. The A380’s First Suite offers an improved suite equipped with a minibar, and central seating that can be put together to form a double bed, allowing guests to travel in total tranquility. Etihad Airways leaves nothing to chance, with a chef on board that prepares meals on-demand for guests. Why not let yourself be taken for a ride through the skies and into perfection?