Etihad Airways will introduce its first Airbus A350-1000 passenger jet into service with a flight to Paris, marking the first time the UAE has flown the long-haul aircraft.
The plane will take to the skies on March 31, Tony Douglas, chief executive of Etihad Aviation Group, said at the Bloomberg UAE Capital Markets Forum on Thursday.
"On March 31, we will be launching the Sustainable 50, which is a brand new Airbus A350-1000 on its maiden flight into Paris Charles de Gaulle," Mr Douglas said.
The airline has yet to reveal the new cabin interior and configuration.
The pace of introducing the first five of Etihad's 12 A350s will depend on the market recovery and the airline will be "agile" in adapting to these market conditions, Mr Douglas told The National this month.
The A350-1000 is Airbus' twin-engined passenger jet that was designed to compete with Boeing's popular 777-300 and 777-300ER versions that rise to 400-seat capacity. The lightweight carbon-fibre Airbus is an all-new design aircraft that was intended to break US rival Boeing's dominance in the “mini-jumbo” segment.
The A350-1000 took to the skies in November 2016 for its maiden flight, followed by the first aircraft delivery in 2018 to its first customer Qatar Airways.
Other customers include British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Virgin Atlantic. Qatar Airways is its biggest customer.
Etihad Airways also signed a letter of intent last month for seven Airbus A350 freighter jets as the air cargo market continues to boom.
"We will look to convert [it] into contract by the middle of the year," Mr Douglas said. He said the letter of intent was a separate deal and not a swap of existing aircraft commitments.
Etihad has forecast a "positive" outlook for the year after narrowing its annual core operating loss by 72 per cent in 2021 in an "extraordinary turnaround" driven by record cargo revenue, cost-cutting measures and debt reduction.
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Etihad's current fleet
- Airbus A320, 30 aircraft
- Boeing 787, 39 aircraft
- Boeing 777, 19 aircraft
- Boeing 777 freighter, 5 aircraft
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
The five pillars of Islam
The five pillars of Islam
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The Light of the Moon
Director: Jessica M Thompson
Starring: Stephanie Beatriz, Michael Stahl-David
Three stars
Ain Issa camp:
- Established in 2016
- Houses 13,309 people, 2,092 families, 62 per cent children
- Of the adult population, 49 per cent men, 51 per cent women (not including foreigners annexe)
- Most from Deir Ezzor and Raqqa
- 950 foreigners linked to ISIS and their families
- NGO Blumont runs camp management for the UN
- One of the nine official (UN recognised) camps in the region
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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The specs
BMW M8 Competition Coupe
Engine 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8
Power 625hp at 6,000rpm
Torque 750Nm from 1,800-5,800rpm
Gearbox Eight-speed paddleshift auto
Acceleration 0-100kph in 3.2 sec
Top speed 305kph
Fuel economy, combined 10.6L / 100km
Price from Dh700,000 (estimate)
On sale Jan/Feb 2020
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Details
Through Her Lens: The stories behind the photography of Eva Sereny
Forewords by Jacqueline Bisset and Charlotte Rampling, ACC Art Books
