The national airline of the United Arab Emirates, Etihad Airways is retrofitting its long-haul fleet including the Airbus A380 aeroplanes with a new 'Economy Space' seats designed to provide more choice to its customers on longer flights and enhance its economy product.
By December 2018, Etihad Airways will have retrofitted its 10 Airbus A380s with the Economy Space seats, in addition to modifying those big superjumbo double-decker aircraft, Etihad Airways will have also added additional Economy Space seats to 12 Boeing 777s and 21 Boeing 787 Dreamliners by the end of 2019, increasing the total number of extra legroom seats by 560%.
The new 'Economy Space' seats feature an increased seat pitch of up to 36 inches. The redesign increases the number of extra legroom seats in Economy from 20 to 80 on the A380. The product is designed to complement existing ancillary offerings like neighbour free seating options and a range of ‘buy-on-board’ products.
Jamal Ahmed Al Awadhi, Etihad Airways Head of Guest Experience, said: “We recognise that no two travellers are alike, and today’s customers demand more choice and personalisation during their travels. In response to the popularity and demand for extra legroom seats, we have reconfigured our Economy cabin to allow travellers to enhance their overall travel experience. While many airlines have been squeezing more seats into economy class, we continue to focus on providing our guests with exceptional products and services that meet and exceed the demands and budgets of different types of travellers,” 