Etihad Airways is continuing to expand its Airbus A380 network, as the super jumbo will be returning to yet another airport. However, this service will be less than daily, and will only be for a limited time.
In this post:
Etihad A380 will fly from Abu Dhabi to Mumbai
At the start of the pandemic, Etihad Airways grounded its Airbus A380 fleet, with plans to likely retire the aircraft permanently. Fortunately the airline had a change of heart, and as of the summer of 2023, the Abu Dhabi-based airline brought back the super jumbo.
Etihad had announced that its plan was to fly the A380 exclusively between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and London (LHR), with no firm plans to fly the jet to any other destination, as the airline intended to bring back just four A380s.
That plan evolved, and as of April 2024, the A380 also resumed flights to New York (JFK), and then as of November 2024, the A380 will also return to Paris (CDG), and then as of February 2025, the A380 will fly to Singapore (SIN). Etihad is also temporarily flying the A380 to Jeddah (JED), but that’s only for a couple of dozen flights.
Etihad has now announced that A380 flights will resume to yet another airport. For four months in late 2024, the Etihad A380 will return to India, to celebrate the carrier’s 20 year anniversary of flying to the country.
Specifically, between September 1 and December 29, 2024, Etihad’s A380 will fly 3x weekly between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Mumbai (BOM), with the following schedule:
EY204 Abu Dhabi to Mumbai departing 2:35PM arriving 7:25PM
EY203 Mumbai to Abu Dhabi departing 11:05PM arriving 12:50AM (+1 day)
The service will operate on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The 1,226-mile flight is blocked at 3hr20min eastbound and 3hr15min westbound. It seems pretty clear that this route is being made possible by simply improving aircraft utilization for an existing aircraft. For example, this seems to “pair” perfectly with the downtime for the A380 on the New York flight.
For what it’s worth, Etihad previously flew the A380 to Mumbai in 2016 and 2017, but then discontinued the service, as the airline was cost cutting at the time, and started shrinking.
What the Etihad A380 means for passengers
Etihad’s Airbus A380s are some pretty special jets, and they’ve offered quite a halo effect for the airline. Etihad’s A380s are configured with a total of 485 seats.
The pinnacle of the Etihad A380 is The Residence, a private three room suite located at the front of the first class cabin. This is the most exclusive product available in commercial aviation.
Pre-pandemic, this experience cost tens of thousands of dollars. However, Etihad is now handling this differently than back then. The airline is now selling upgrades to this for first class passengers who are ticketed through Etihad.
However, Etihad doesn’t have plans to sell The Residence on this route, presumably given the brief window where this service is operating, so you can expect The Residence to stay empty.
We’re seeing the introduction of the Etihad First Class Apartments on the Mumbai route, as there are nine of those on the plane. This is one of the most impressive first class hard products out there, as there’s just a single aisle in the center of the cabin, and one suite on each side. This is a much better first class product than you’ll find on Etihad’s 787s. Etihad also has a stellar soft product nowadays, making for a great experience.
There are then 70 business class seats, which are the Etihad Business Studios, the same product you’ll find on the 787. This is a solid business class product, but not as good as Etihad’s new A350 business class, or the carrier’s new 787-9 business class.
Lastly, there are 405 economy class seats, including 80 with extra legroom. This takes up the entire lower deck, as seats are in a 3-4-3 configuration.
Bottom line
Between September and December of 2024, Etihad will fly the Airbus A380 3x weekly between Abu Dhabi and Mumbai. While the service won’t be operated as consistently as to London and New York (and soon Paris and Singapore), it’s still nice to see the airline offering A380 service to an additional destination.
What do you make of Etihad operating A380 flights to Mumbai?
Interesting to watch Antonaldo and Arik bring back all the unprofitable flying that Tony worked to cut out of the network in order to make Etihad more sustainable in the long run. It seems like their executive team only knows how to grow a network without a view towards profitability or sustainability before quickly walking away to the next schmuck who is dumb enough to buy their garbage visions. How long do you think this...
Interesting to watch Antonaldo and Arik bring back all the unprofitable flying that Tony worked to cut out of the network in order to make Etihad more sustainable in the long run. It seems like their executive team only knows how to grow a network without a view towards profitability or sustainability before quickly walking away to the next schmuck who is dumb enough to buy their garbage visions. How long do you think this team has left before they leave for another adventure and Etihad is left to pick up the pieces yet again?!
Please calm down
You are carrying on like they are beginning to fly the a380 4 times a day to Mumbai
This is a 3 weekly flight for 4 months
If the two executives were so bad why did Etihad recently reveal its half year results
Which were the best since 2016
Please educate yourself before making such false statements
Seems like the planned A380 service to Jeddah has been cancelled, the flight will not be operated by the A350-1000 instead, which previously the AUH-BOM afternoon rotation.
Apologies for the typos…
now be **
previously operated **
I got to fly the First Suites on the A380 from AUH-BOM back in 2016 using miles for some ridiculously low promo price (like 20k Etihad Guest miles or similar). On board services were great, but ground services were horrendous.
Did it the other way around in 2016. BOM ground services were surprisingly good.
Had a 6h intl layover in BOM.
The transit desk made a handwritten boarding pass for me to go immediately airside to first class section of the GVK lounge. They had Moet and complimentary massage.
My true boarding pass got printed at the gate.
Totally expected having to wait hours at the transit desk till EY staff showed...
Did it the other way around in 2016. BOM ground services were surprisingly good.
Had a 6h intl layover in BOM.
The transit desk made a handwritten boarding pass for me to go immediately airside to first class section of the GVK lounge. They had Moet and complimentary massage.
My true boarding pass got printed at the gate.
Totally expected having to wait hours at the transit desk till EY staff showed up instead, but they handled it so well.
My ticket was an AA F award for just 40K AAdvantage miles.
DAC-9W J-BOM-EY F-AUH-EY J-DOH-QR “F”-DXB-QF F-LHR.
Was a great deal back then. Could even visit the EY F, QR F and EK F lounge on that single AA ticket.
Plenty of demand (lowers casm/cask) in both the front and the back of the plane for BOM/Mumbai.
Good move by Etihad management here.
It would be particularly nice if Etihad's economics afforded the reinstatement of service to LAX, irrespective of aircraft. It still has its lounge there, albeit currently repurposed.