Etihad Airways is counting on its Airbus A380 superjumbos to capitalise on strong long-haul travel demand to Bangkok during the high season, with its global flight capacity already exceeding last year’s levels despite conflicts in the Middle East.
Lena Havia, vice-president of alliance and joint ventures at Etihad Airways, said the airline was focused on growth while maintaining a strong load factor.
Etihad’s flight capacity already exceeded last year’s level by 15-18%, when it reported an average load factor of 88%.
The airline recently introduced the A380 superjumbo on its Bangkok route for daily operations, increasing passenger capacity by roughly 30% compared with the A350.
Eight of the nine A380 jets have been added to the fleet, with the remaining aircraft due in January next year, she said.
The superjumbos currently serve high-demand routes, including Bangkok, Tokyo, London, Paris and Toronto. Etihad will also deploy the A380 on its Singapore route from December.
Each Etihad A380 features four cabin classes: “the Residence”, a three-room suite accommodating up to two guests; first class offering nine suites; business class with 70 seats; and economy class with 415 seats.
Myka D’Souza, the airline’s general manager for APAC South, said the airline is confident about the safety and security of its Middle East operations despite lingering conflicts in the region.
“We will never let any of our cabin crews or pilots fly the flight if we know it’s not safe,” said Ms D’Souza, adding that its Abu Dhabi hub in the United Arab Emirates is highly secure.
Despite increased competition from direct long-haul flights operated by other airlines connecting Europe and Asia, she said Etihad is competing by offering premium products.
“We’ve seen a huge demand in premium luxury travel in Bangkok,” she said, noting that people are willing to spend on the travel experience.
To entice travellers to fly through its hub, Etihad also provides a stopover programme allowing travellers to stay for free in Abu Dhabi for one or two days, discounts for major attractions as well as up to 15 days of complimentary medical insurance, she said.
The airline will also roll out a new cabin design for its A330neo aircraft next year.
The airline operates roughly 92 flights per week or 14 flights per day to Thailand, serving four destinations: Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi and Chiang Mai.