Etihad Airways has operated the first commercial flight from Abu Dhabi International Airports’s new Terminal A.
Etihad flight EY224, from Abu Dhabi to New Delhi, departed Terminal A at 14.35 on Tuesday. The flight used one of the airline’s Airbus A350-1000, with 359 passengers onboard.
To commemorate the occasion, all passengers, including those in both economy and business classes, had the opportunity to be the inaugural guests at the new Etihad Lounges, which span three floors at Terminal A.
Inaugural Etihad flight
The ceremonial flight was officially inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by a distinguished array of guests, including Etihad and Abu Dhabi Airport Board members and aviation leaders.
Among those present were Etihad’s CEO, Antonoaldo Neves, as well as Elena Sorlini, managing director and interim CEO and Frank McCrorie, chief operations officer at Abu Dhabi Airports.
Neves said: “This is a pivotal and exciting moment in Etihad’s history. As we begin to celebrate our 20th anniversary in November, we are ready for the next growth chapter in our new home.
“Our congratulations go to the Abu Dhabi leadership for their vision in creating what is one of the world’s most spectacular airports. The terminal is a stunning piece of architecture that echoes the local landscape and warmly welcomes our guests and elevates their travel experience.
“As we begin our transition to our new home, we look forward to welcoming even more passengers as we continue to grow and expand our fleet and network.”
Sorlini said: “This is an historic moment for Abu Dhabi International Airport, our partners at Etihad Airways, and the emirate as whole.
“The first flight from Terminal A marks a major milestone in the journey of Abu Dhabi’s aviation sector. Terminal A brings a significant increase to capacity, and delivers state-of-the-art facilities to both airlines and passengers.
“We look forward to welcoming more passengers throughout November as we continue to increase the number of flights departing and arriving at Terminal A.”
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