Is Etihad Delaying Their A380 Flights?

That is interesting! Perhaps it's to further train the crew? Virgin Atlantic had the 787-9 on LHR-BOS for the first week and then took it off schedule for 2 weeks for further training before finally putting back to schedule.

I got a message this morning saying my EY11 flight on april did change. As it's still far ahead, I didn't bothered to check what was it. But after your post, I checked and now it's listed as a 77W.
I'll wait a bit, but no way I'll acept a change from the A380 apartments. It seems like a new drama is just going to start.

Mine booking on the apartment on A380 is changed to 77W as well... I am on the phone with them now... still put on hold

OK basically they can change my flight to Friday by paying the fare difference (almost double the price that I bought) or cancel the ticket (pay cancellation fee). I will keep it as it is for now and wait for the announcement. Maybe it can change back or, I would just cancel the trip.

Sad thing is I book other award on OZ, NH, JL, QF, CX, BA all in First class to make around the world to fill the trip and I might just cancel the whole thing!... sad!

The 787 has been delayed from Dec 01 to Dec 27, but a contact at EY insists the A380 isn't delayed... yet. No idea why they'd remove it from the schedule though... First 100,000 mile service? 😀

There is a similar issue with the 787 flights. I was pretty excited to have the 787 from AUH to DUS in December in First. Didn't even plan it. Now the 787 doesn't show up at all.

@ Wovkinwod -- Hmmm, very odd if both their A380 and 787 is delayed. There has to be another explanation.

I just thought they delayed the 787 from Dec 1st to Dec 27th so both the A380 and 787 can be unveiled the same time on their inaugural commercial flights.

I agree with Joey. They might be wanting to do the inaugurals then further train the crew. What I don't understand, though, is why operate AUH-SYD with an A380, while you can deploy it on the AUH-LAX, for instance and have much higher demand for premium cabins. I can see QF just dominating the Australia-UAE market together with EK because of convenient onward connections and lots of other stuff.

@Joey I've been told by Etihad employees that the 787 delay is with Boeing. It will be flown to AUH for a single press day and photographs, then flown back to Boeing (I assume for more testing) in December.

Just got another email saying there is a change in my itinerary, but it seems to be back to the original, including the A380 flight.

@ Carlos -- Hmmm, interesting. Seems Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays still show as a 777-300ER, while the other days show as an A380...