The first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner for Etihad Airways is rolled out

Boeing (Chicago) last night (September 27) rolled out of its paint hangar the first 787-9 Dreamliner that will be delivered to Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi). Boeing 787-9 A6-BLA (msn 39646) is painted in the airline’s new ‘Facets of Abu Dhabi’ livery with colors reminiscent of the desert landscape, inspired by the culture, Islamic design and architecture motifs of the United Arab Emirates.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, will take delivery of its first 787-9 later this year. Etihad Airways is one of the world’s largest customers for the 787 with a total of 71 Dreamliners on order, including 41 787-9s and 30 787-10s.

The new 787-9 complements and extends the super-efficient 787 family. With the fuselage stretched by 20 feet (6 meters) over the 787-8, the 787-9 can fly more passengers and more cargo farther with the same exceptional environmental performance – 20 percent less fuel use and 20 percent fewer emissions than the airplanes it replaces.

Nearly 60 customers from around the world have ordered more than 1,000 Dreamliners, approximately 40 percent of which are 787-9s.

Etihad Airways’ first Boeing 787-9 will be delivered in December 2014, and more than 40 international routes have been identified for future operation by the airline’s Dreamliners. The aircraft will initially operate between Abu Dhabi and Düsseldorf and between Abu Dhabi and Doha. Services to Brisbane, Mumbai, Moscow and Washington D.C. will follow in the first half of 2015.

Etihad Airways has also revamped its product offering on the Boeing 787 based on extensive consumer research, with refinements in all three cabins.

The new First Suite on the B787 will offer guests a private sanctuary with many new features, including a chilled mini-bar and 5-star cuisine prepared on board by world-class chefs. The new Business Studio offers larger seats, all of which have direct aisle access and convert to a fully flat, pneumatically adjustable bed. The Economy Smart Seat is an industry-first and provides unparalleled comfort for travellers with a new ‘fixed wing’ headrest, maximising comfort and enhancing the sleep experience. The B787 will also feature the latest Panasonic eX3 entertainment system, providing more than 750 hours of on-demand entertainment, improved gaming and high-definition screens in all cabins.

The new ‘Facets of Abu Dhabi’ livery uses a color palette which reflects the varying hues of the landscape of the UAE, from the darker sands of the Liwa desert to the lighter colors seen in the Northern Emirates. The result of extensive research, the design will also be a key feature of the new cabin interiors being introduced on Etihad Airways’ Boeing 787 aircraft.

Etihad Airways: