Etihad Airways to Operate Boeing 787 Dreamliner Between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh

Etihad Airlines
Etihad Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner//Photo by Etihad Airways

Beginning October 30, 2016, Etihad Airways is operating a Boeing 787 Dreamliner for one of its twice-daily scheduled flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh.

The airline cites a recent strong demand for travel to and from the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the cause for the upgrade from a single-aisle Airbus A321 aircraft. The Boeing 787 will offer guests more seats on its wider-bodied aircraft. Together, with the other daily Riyadh service (which operates a Boeing 777), Etihad Airways will be offering more than 8,700 weekly seats on the route.

The daily flight is schedule to depart Abu Dhabi around 10:15 a.m. and arrive in Riyadh at approximately 11:15 a.m., local time. Returning, the Boeing 787 is schedule to depart Riyadh at approximately 4:35 p.m. and arrive in Abu Dhabi around 7:10, local times. The 299-seat aircraft is configured in two classes and boasts award-winning cabin interiors, with 20 seats in Business and 271 in Economy.

The airline offers guests a renowned Business Studio onboard, a seat which provides guests with direct aisle access that is also equipped with an in-seat massage and air cushion control system. Economy Class passengers are offered Smart Seats that have been designed to provide additional comfort through features like a “fixed-wing” headrest, extra seat width and individual TV monitors.

Riyadh is now Etihad Airways’ newest Boeing 787 destination this year, following the induction of the aircraft on flights to Perth, Dusseldorf and Shanghai, with Abu Dhabi to Johannesburg set to become a Dreamliner route this November.

Etihad Airways’ current fleet of nine Boeing 787s also operates to Singapore, Washington D.C., Brisbane and Zurich.

On just its Riyadh route, Etihad Airways has flown more than 2.5 million guests since 2004.