Etihad Goes All-Suites In Business Class For Australia
Etihad jets on Melbourne & Sydney flights now feature suites in Business
Etihad Airways now exclusively operating its newest Business Class product on every one of its Australian flights. In Sydney, the older Boeing 777 has already been replaced by modern Airbus A350-1000 jets. For Melbourne, the Boeing 787-9 continues to operate flights, but Etihad has subbed-in their newest 787 layout.
These updated 787’s boost capacity across cabins, increasing total seats by 5% from 290 to 303. Business Class expands from 26 to 32, while Economy grows from 262 to 271 seats.
The move is a cheeky dig at Gulf heavyweights, Emirates and Qatar Airways, with Etihad now claiming bragging rights as the only Gulf carrier to offer premium cabins with privacy doors on all Australian flights.
Etihad’s latest 787 Business Class cabin features suites with sliding doors, built around the airline’s customised Collins Elements platform. Arranged in a 1-2-1 layout, every passenger has direct aisle access, with seats measuring 21” wide and converting into fully flat 78” beds. The suites are designed with increased height for added privacy and include generous personal storage, plus multiple charging options such as universal AC power, USB-A, USB-C and wireless charging.
In Economy, the aircraft is fitted with next-generation slimline seats, including Economy Space seats, in a 3-3-3 configuration. The seats are lighter to support improved fuel efficiency and feature a refined, space-enhancing design with slimmer armrests. Standard seats are 17” wide with 31” pitch and 5” recline, while Economy Space offers up to 35” pitch. Each passenger has access to a 13.3” 4K UHD touchscreen, along with universal AC and USB charging.
On the tech front, the aircraft introduces the latest inflight entertainment platform from Safran, including the ability to pair Bluetooth headphones to their screen and watch Live TV, including news and sport channels. WiFi connectivity is powered by Viasat’s Ka-band technology, which is nowhere near as fast as Starlink, but is snappy nonetheless.
Etihad now operates daily services from Melbourne, alongside 10 weekly services from Sydney, including double-daily flights on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.
Via Abu Dhabi, travellers from Melbourne can connect to a growing global network spanning the Middle East, Europe and beyond, with over 100 destinations expected to be served by the end of 2026, including a wave of new routes announced across 2025 and 2026.
