Etihad to fly second A380 on Abu Dhabi to London route

Etihad plans to launch a second Airbus A380 plane on its Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow route on May 1, the UAE’s national airline said on Thursday.

The plane is the second ‘superjumbo’ delivered to Etihad, which has firm orders for another eight A380s.

The airline also plans to put a third A380 on the London route later this year, said Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer at Etihad Airways, in a statement.

“By August of 2015, all three daily flights on this flagship route will be operated by the A380,” he said.

The plane will include ‘The Residence by Etihad’ on-board suite – a luxury cabin with living room, ensuite shower room, double bedroom and dedicated Savoy trained Butler – which will cost passengers $20,000 to book. It will also have first and business class cabins and 417 economy seats.

Etihad will in June add an A380 on one of its two daily Abu Dhabi to Sydney services, Baumgartner added.

Etihad’s rival, the Dubai-based Emirates, is the largest customer of the A380, with a total of 140 delivered or on order.

Emirates recently signed a $9.2 billion deal with the UK-based Rolls-Royce to provide 200 engines for 50 of its superjumbos.