The first Etihad Airways flight from Abu Dhabi to Warsaw landed this morning in the Polish capital at 6.37am local time.
Flight EY 159 – a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner – took off from Terminal A at Zayed International Airport approximately six hours earlier at 2.40am local time.
The new route, the third of 16 that the airline is launching in 2025, will now operate four times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The medium-haul 787-9 Dreamliner features 28 business-class seats and 262 economy seats, and the plane was nearly full.
After the plane arrived at Zayed International Airport's gate C27, crew and staff took pictures underneath a celebratory arch before take off.
“I'm very excited to be here representing Etihad on the inaugural flight to Warsaw,” Etihad chief financial officer Raffael Quintas tells The National.
“It's the first flight to Warsaw. Our inaugural flight to Prague was yesterday and our inaugural flight to Sochi was a few weeks ago. It's an exciting year for Etihad, with 20 new planes also coming.”
Last week, Etihad launched a competition among its Etihad Guest frequent flyers members to win up to five million miles by flying to each of the airline’s new year-round destinations launching in 2025. Some of them were on the flight to Warsaw.
“An inaugural flight is always a big event for an aviation geek like me, but this year is special because of the competition,” says frequent flyer Lays Laraya.
An inaugural flight is also special for the pilot and co-pilot. Captain Eisa Ahmed Al Ali says: “I joined in 2008 and went through training to reach the role of captain. I'm really excited to be doing the first Warsaw flight.”
Senior first officer Mateusz Lukas Perz, who is from Warsaw, adds: “I joined last year in the middle of October and before that I was flying out of Warsaw, my home base.
“I'm so happy to take people there to show them the city, our Polish hospitality and cuisine, which is really amazing.”
He advises travellers to try pierogies, which are “like a Polish dumpling and highly recommend”.
Cabin crew member Marta, who is also from Poland, suggests travellers explore Warsaw Old Town. “It's a Unesco site,” she says. “It might not be the most beautiful compared to places like Barcelona, but it's very special as it was rebuilt with survivors' hands after the Second World War.”
Warsaw is the largest city in Poland, attracting millions of tourists each year. Alongside the Old Town, major attractions include the Royal Castle, once home to the Polish monarchy, and the Warsaw Uprising Museum, which charts the uprising during the Second World War.
Arriving in Warsaw, the aircraft was greeted by a water cannon salute, followed by an arrival ceremony near baggage claim. WAW Chopin Airport is one of two airports used for commercial flights in the Polish capital and is approximately a 25-minute drive or 30-minute train ride from the city centre. There is only one terminal in the airport and it is small and easy to navigate.
“Our new Prague and Warsaw services open doors to countless possibilities,” Etihad chief executive Antonoaldo Neves said in a statement ahead of the journey. “These new routes create a bridge between two remarkable regions, connecting travellers from the Middle East to the heart of Central Europe, while offering seamless connections via Abu Dhabi to destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, the Indian Subcontinent and Australia.”
The first Etihad flight from Warsaw to Abu Dhabi, EY 160, is scheduled to take off at 11.20am local time (1.30pm GST) on June 3.
Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
About Okadoc
Date started: Okadoc, 2018
Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Healthcare
Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth
Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February
Investors: Undisclosed
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
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THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Healthcare spending to double to $2.2 trillion rupees
Launched a 641billion-rupee federal health scheme
Allotted 200 billion rupees for the recapitalisation of state-run banks
Around 1.75 trillion rupees allotted for privatisation and stake sales in state-owned assets
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
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Cases of coronavirus in the GCC as of March 15
Saudi Arabia – 103 infected, 0 dead, 1 recovered
UAE – 86 infected, 0 dead, 23 recovered
Bahrain – 210 infected, 0 dead, 44 recovered
Kuwait – 104 infected, 0 dead, 5 recovered
Qatar – 337 infected, 0 dead, 4 recovered
Oman – 19 infected, 0 dead, 9 recovered
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final, second leg (first-leg score):
Manchester City (0) v Tottenham Hotspur (1), Wednesday, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
