Etihad Airways has transitioned to an all Airbus A350-1000 (A350) operation on its Sydney to Abu Dhabi route, accelerating its all-A350 schedule by two months on the back of rising premium demand.
The transition follows the aircraft’s introduction on select flights from October this year.
Etihad now operates 10 weekly A350-1000 flights from Sydney, including double-daily services on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. The airline is working toward increasing A350 services to 14 weekly, or double-daily in the future, in line with the ongoing expansion of its A350 fleet, “reinforcing its commitment to strengthening connectivity between Australia and Abu Dhabi.”
Meanwhile, the Melbourne – Abu Dhabi route continues to operate daily with the Boeing 787-9 aircraft and, like Sydney, will feature “the latest Business Suites from 1 February 2026.”
“Transitioning Sydney to all-A350 reflects our long-standing commitment to delivering a superior experience for Australian guests,” Javier Alija, Vice President Global Sales and Distribution of Etihad Airways, said.
“The change sees our Boeing 777-300ER exit Australian skies, with both Sydney and Melbourne being flown with the latest luxury Etihad product across all cabins. And with demand for premium capacity continuing to rise, our new A350 product positions us to deliver more luxury, privacy, comfort and premium service from one of our most important international markets.”
The A350-1000 introduces a host of advanced features, designed to elevate the passenger experience. It includes 44 private Business Studios with sliding doors, fully-flat 79” beds, 18.5” UHD touch screens and wireless charging, along with 327 Economy Smart Seats with enhanced recline and 13-inch touch screens. Guests flying from Sydney and Melbourne also enjoy access to high-speed Wi-Fly on all Australian services.
Travellers connecting via Abu Dhabi can reach over 90 destinations worldwide, with 32 new additions announced for 2025. The expansion includes popular European cities such as Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, Geneva, Krakow, Palma, and Prague, further enhancing Australia’s connectivity with the global network.
