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Etihad’s New Business-Class Suites Are Sleek, Private, and Come With Plenty of Perks | Condé Nast Traveler
Air Travel

# Etihad’s New Business-Class Suites Are Sleek, Private, and Come With Plenty of Perks

Etihad's new Airbus A350-1000 plane has redesigned business-class seats with fully closing doors and other plush amenities.

April 7, 2022

Aerial view of skyscrapers in Corniche bay in Abu Dhabi UAE. Turquoise water in the front and blue sky in the distance...

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Etihad Airways has officially launched its first Airbus A350-1000, complete with all-new business-class suites—which come with plenty of perks—as well as an enhanced economy product. The new plane, which had its inaugural flight on March 31 from Abu Dhabi to Paris, is a significant milestone for the UAE-based carrier.

Etihad received its first of five A350-1000s in 2019, but as the pandemic pummeled the aviation industry, the new wide-body airliners remained grounded until now.

With its debut, the new jet is set to become a significant part of Etihad’s long-haul fleet as it continues to phase out the larger, double-decker A380 superjumbo jets. Indeed, the A350 burns 25 percent less fuel than the previous generation of aircraft, making it much more efficient to operate. Its livery also is notable, featuring a large “50” swooping across the rear fuselage, with colors and stripes representing those of the UAE. It's a nod to the A350, the 50th anniversary of federation of the UAE, and the aviation industry’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050.

Starting this spring, Etihad will begin to roll out its additional four A350s on medium-haul routes to destinations including Istanbul, Cairo, and Mumbai. And in July, the airline plans to begin launching ultra-long-haul service on North American routes, starting with New York JFK and Chicago O’Hare from its home base in Abu Dhabi.

Here’s what it's like to fly in Etihad’s plush new business-class suites.

Etihad's new business-class suites on its A350-1000 plane.
Etihad Airways

## Private suites with Champagne and caviar

Upon setting foot on board, I was immediately struck by the open, airy vibe in the business-class section: a deliberate design choice resulting from the lack of overhead storage above the middle seats and the aircraft’s lofty ceilings, which, according to Etihad, are the highest in the industry at nearly eight feet. Of course, fewer overhead bins means less space for luggage, but even with a full business cabin, there was still plenty of room for everyone’s suitcases.

Equally impressive is the individual space in each of the 44 business suites, arranged in a 1-2-1 formation. All seats face forward and have direct aisle access, which is increasingly common on business- and first-class cabins (and ideal for passengers like me who love gazing out the window but hate clambering over seatmates to use the restroom).

The new business-class suites come with sliding privacy doors and stylish lighting, which is designed to mimic the shadows cast by Abu Dhabi’s palm trees. The seats themselves are Super Diamond seats by Collins Aerospace—an offering found on several airlines, most recently adopted on the Club Suite class of British Airways—which measure 20 inches wide. They also convert into a fully-flat bed 79 inches in length, which gives even the tallest fliers plenty of space to stretch. Rounding out the business-class experience are high-tech touches and thoughtful extras including a wireless charging pad, an 18.5-inch TV screen, and Bluetooth connectivity. Several storage bins are ideal for keeping essentials such as phones or reading material stowed close at hand. Seats are also equipped with noise-canceling headphones (not that there’s much noise to cancel: This was one of the quietest flights I’ve ever experienced, thanks to the A350-1000’s impressive 50 percent noise reduction compared to previous-generation aircraft). Amenity kits feature Acqua di Parma toiletries, and for the inaugural flight, each business-class seat came with a commemorative box of chocolates from Mirzam.

On the dining front, the indulgences continue. The inaugural flight featured a French-inspired breakfast menu, with sophisticated dishes such as lobster eggs Benedict, a French omelet topped with caviar, and a croque monsieur. The all-day menu, available anytime, includes items such as a steak sandwich, quiche, cheese plate, and various snacks. The drinks menu, meanwhile, has several wine selections as well as spirits. During our day flight, Champagne appeared to be the most popular beverage.

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My lobster eggs Benedict was tasty, though the English muffin, eggs, and asparagus side were a tad overcooked (a not-uncommon issue, considering the challenges and limitations of onboard kitchens), and breakfast service took well over three hours to complete for the cabin. I would also have loved to have been offered a second food service later in the flight. Minor gripes, though, and ones I’m sure Etihad, which is renowned for its on-board service, will iron out as staff become more familiar with the aircraft.

## An ergonomic economy class

The stylish, spacious vibe isn’t just reserved for business class on Etihad’s A350-1000. The economy cabin is configured with 327 ergonomically designed seats in a 3-3-3 arrangement, 45 of which are designated as “Economy Space” with an extra four inches of legroom. All seats come with a 13.3-inch screen—one of the largest I can recall seeing in economy—USB charging, and Bluetooth connectivity. In addition, the airline’s signature supportive headrest features a wing design and adjusts up and down.

Each economy seat comes with a blanket and pillow, and on longer flights, an amenity kit is provided. Economy cabin bathrooms are smaller but otherwise almost identical to their business-class counterparts, with an attractive tile design in a gray-and-black palette on the floors and the sink backsplash. The space also felt far less compact than other coffin-like economy-class bathrooms, where, alas, claustrophobia seems to be the unintended design objective.

## Should you fly the new plane?

It was thrilling to be one of the first passengers on this remarkable plane and to experience firsthand the new Etihad business class offering—which I highly recommend if you have the cash (or the points) to swing it. At the time of publication, July flights from Chicago to Abu Dhabi started at $2,559 one-way—which actually is an excellent deal for a 14-hour flight in business, with loads of space, comfort, and top-notch perks that make the journey as enjoyable as the destination. Our seven-hour flight flew by so quickly that, after breakfast service, knocking out some work, and catching up on emails, I didn’t even have time to take a nap, but I did stretch out to binge-watch some of my favorite shows on HBO Max. On an overnight flight, though, you can bet I’d be taking full advantage of the comfort of the lie-flat seat and the privacy door to catch some Zs.

As international travel finally bounces back, Etihad’s A350-1000s and its growing network of routes offer passengers another opportunity to see the world again without sacrificing comfort or style.

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