Etihad Airways is elevating its Sydney–Abu Dhabi route with the arrival of its state-of-the-art Airbus A350-1000, featuring private Business Suites with sliding doors. The aircraft will begin operating select services from 1 October 2025, with full transition across the airline’s 10 weekly Sydney flights by 31 January 2026.
The A350 will complement Etihad’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, also fitted with Business Suites, as the airline boosts capacity and comfort on its Australian routes. Melbourne will continue to be served daily with the latest Dreamliner featuring increased premium seating.
More space, more comfort, and more choice
With the A350, Etihad increases overall seat capacity on Sydney services by 10 per cent, and premium seating by more than 20 per cent. Each of the 44 Business Suites offers direct aisle access, a fully flat 79-inch bed, and a sliding door for elevated privacy. Additional features include wireless charging, Bluetooth headphone pairing, noise-cancelling headphones, and an 18.5-inch personal entertainment screen.
The aircraft also includes 327 Economy Smart Seats with 13-inch touchscreens and Bluetooth compatibility. Guests in all cabins will enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi Chat packages and can upgrade to full-flight browsing.
Sustainable innovation and seamless connections
The A350, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, burns 25 per cent less fuel and emits less CO2 than previous models, underscoring Etihad’s commitment to sustainable aviation. Its introduction supports the airline’s broader growth strategy, offering improved connectivity from Sydney and Melbourne to Abu Dhabi and onwards to Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
“This is a significant enhancement to our Australian services,” said Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, Arik De.
“The A350 delivers more premium options and elevates the travel experience, while our expanded schedule improves flexibility and supports seamless onward connections. We also look forward to welcoming more guests to Abu Dhabi with our complimentary stopover program.”
