- Chidozie Uzoezie
Etihad Airways Deploys Boeing 787-9 to Perth

Etihad Airways has deployed the Boeing 787-9 on its Abu Dhabi-Perth service. Inaugural flight EY486 took off from Abu Dhabi at 10.30pm Wednesday and touched down in Perth at about 1:50pm Thursday.
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner features Etihad Airways’ next-generation Business and Economy Class cabins. With 299 seats, it delivers 14 per cent more capacity than the Airbus A330-200 it replaces.
The Etihad Airways B787-9 Dreamliner features the airline’s highly acclaimed next-generation interiors with 28 Business Studios and 271 Economy Smart Seats.
The onboard décor and lighting have been inspired by contemporary modern Arabian design, complementing the airline’s eye-catching ‘Facets of Abu Dhabi’ livery.
The 28 Business Studios feature direct aisle access, fully flat bed of up to 80.5 inches long, in-seat massage and pneumatic cushion control system, 18-inch personal touch-screen TV and noise-cancelling headsets.
The 271 Economy Smart Seats provide enhanced comfort with a unique ‘fixed wing’ headrest on each seat, adjustable lumbar support, a seat width of approximately 19 inches, and an 11.1” personal TV monitor.
The Dreamliner fleet features the latest Panasonic eX3 entertainment system which provides more than 750 hours of on-demand entertainment including seven live TV channels, improved gaming and high definition screens across all cabins.
The aircraft has full mobile and Wi-Fi service, with USB and power points at every seat.