5 days Ago By Tatenda Karuwa
UAE national carrier Etihad Airways has taken delivery of its sixth Airbus A350-1000 , growing its long-haul fleet with one of the most modern widebodies in the market. The aircraft is scheduled to operate its first flights from Abu Dhabi to Milan and Toronto. The airline has 14 more A350-1000s on order, strengthening its position as one of the carriers with the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets.
The model has been strategically important for Etihad, particularly on its long-haul routes to North America. Grand Arrival in Abu Dhabi From Toulouse The brand-new A350-1000, registration A6-XWG, arrived at the airline’s hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) on April 11 at 05:47 local time after a five-and-half-hour ferry flight from Toulouse (TLS). It is the sixth of the type to join Etihad’s fleet, nearly six years after the airline received its first A350-1000.
The aircraft was welcomed with a traditional water cannon salute. It has 371 seats, including 282 in economy, 45 in economy plus, and 44 in business class. Etihad’s award-winning business class cabin is arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, featuring privacy-focused sliding doors, wireless charging, and state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment (IFE).
Meanwhile, economy class offers ergonomic seating, device holders, and Bluetooth-compatible IFE. The A350-1000 offers more extended range and more seats than the smaller A350-900, making it a versatile aircraft for Etihad’s fleet. The type is also one of the most efficient jets in service, with up to 25% lower CO2 emissions and a 50% smaller noise footprint compared to previous-generation aircraft, supporting the airline’s sustainability targets.
Over Three Years Of A350 Operations Etihad’s first A350 (A6-XWB) was delivered in May 2019, and the other four (XWA, XWC, XWE, and XWF) were delivered between July 2019 and May 2020. However, instead of going into passenger service, the aircraft headed straight for storage in Bordeaux. Etihad eventually operated its first A350 flight in March 2022 .
The aircraft debuted with a special “50” livery, celebrating the UAE’s 50th anniversary and the airline’s ambition to achieve net zero by 2050. Since then, it has become a favorite for Etihad’s guests. This summer, Etihad will launch A350 flights to Atlanta , its sixth destination in the US.
Starting on July 2, the route will initially operate four times a week, increasing to daily from November 1, 2025. Atlanta is one of 16 new destinations Etihad will launch this year as it continues to grow its international network. Last year, the airline upgraded its Abu-Dhabi-Toronto service with A350-1000 flights , replacing the Boeing 777-300ER on the route.
According to data from Cirium , an aviation analytics company, Etihad has scheduled its A350s to five destinations in April 2025. It offers up to 30 weekly flights and 11,130 seats. The weekly frequencies are as follows: Destination Flights Seats Delhi (DEL) 7 2,597 Chicago (ORD) 7 2,597 Toronto (YYZ) 7 2,597 Mumbai (BOM) 5 1,855 Milan (MXP) 4 1,484 Etihad Airways' changes seem to be temporary, with the Abu Dhabi to Frankfurt route returning to double-daily Boeing 787 flights in November.
More A350s In The UAE And Beyond While Etihad operates the A350-1000, fellow UAE national carrier Emirates operates the A350-900. The Dubai-based carrier took delivery of its first A350 in November 2024 , becoming the second operator of the type in the Gulf nation. The airline now has four A350s in its fleet and 61 more to be delivered over the next few years.
Emirates’ A350s offer a slightly different product from the A380 and 777, which the airline has exclusively operated for several years . The brand-new twin jets are in a three-class configuration with 259 seats in economy, 21 in premium economy, and 32 in business class. The A350s are delivered with Emirates’ revamped business class product, which offers a 1-2-1 seat configuration.
The twinjets are currently flying to Ahmedabad, Bahrain, Mumbai, Colombo, Edinburgh, and Kuwait. As of March 31, Airbus had delivered nine A350s this year , including one -1000 to Japan Airlines and eight -900s to Emirates (2), Air France (2), Turkish Airlines (2), Delta (1), and Starlux (1). Etihad’s strategic partner, Ethiopian Airlines, is also one of the latest A350-1000 operators .
It took delivery of the first of four in November 2024 and has received two more since then. It currently flies them on various medium and long-haul routes..
