Rejoice, you who enjoy the luxury!
The airline announced on Friday that it would restart operations with its Airbus A380.
Four of the opulent double-deckers will be removed from storage by the airline and put into service between Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) starting the next summer.
No specific day or month was given by the airline.
The spread of COVID-19 practically put a stop to international travel, and Etihad grounded its fleet of 10 A380s in March 2020.
The A380, which had four engines and could seat up to 500 people in various configurations, was too inefficient and expensive to operate, even though airlines continued to fly with minimal schedules and cargo trips.
The airline intended to keep the A380s grounded, according to then-CEO Tony Douglas' confirmation the following year "they can no longer be sustained commercially indefinitely," he claimed at the World Aviation Festival in April.
We have so made the painful decision to leave that equipment in place for the foreseeable future."
According to a report from FlightGlobal, Etihad intended to refocus its fleet around the smaller, more maneuverable, and effective Boeing 787 and Airbus A350-1000.
Although, times do change.
Since the middle of 2021, as travel restrictions were being lifted and vaccinations became available, there has been an increase in demand for travel worldwide.
The capacity expansion by airlines was difficult to maintain.
In a statement, the company's current CEO Antonoaldo Neves said, "We have determined the timing is right to return some of our A380s into the fleet to satisfy the demand that has made them financially feasible once again."
"We look forward to once again welcoming our guests on board this magnificent aircraft."
The airline claims it will be able to add more frequency on existing routes and open up space for new destinations by introducing the A380 to the London route.
Five Airbus A320 narrow-body aircraft will also be added by Etihad and put back into service in order to complement the A380s.
The airline's hub in Abu Dhabi would employ those planes for extra-regional flights, increasing the number of connecting slots available to carry all of the A380 passengers.
Some passengers find the return of the Etihad A380 to be an exciting occasion because it is one of the most storied and luxurious aircraft in the skies.
The aircraft is set up with 405 economy seats, including 80 with enhanced legroom, 70 business class "Studios," and nine first-class "Apartments."
On the A380, Etihad offers a special item called "The Residence."
The Residence, located at the front of the upper deck, is essentially a three-room suite with a living area, a separate bedroom, and a private bathroom with a shower.
One first-class "Apartment" seat in the living room is about the same size.
The Residence, which frequently costs more than $20,000 for a one-way journey (although award flights have occasionally been available), also offers extras like private butler service, specialized dinners, and access to elite airport lounges.
Meanwhile, Etihad is hardly the first airline to change its mind about using an A380 fleet that is grounded.
By the summer of 2023, Lufthansa promised to put the A380 that had been parked back into service.
Beginning in June, three of its eight A380s will fly popular routes out of its hub in Munich. Later in the summer, other aircraft will resume service.
During the grounding, Lufthansa sold six more A380s.
Lufthansa noted, "the sharp increase in consumer demand and the delayed delivery of ordered aircraft" in a statement.
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