Much like Abu Dhabi, all eyes are on Etihad Airways — the national air carrier of the UAE. Luxury-lovers are swooning over Etihad’s recently introduced premium classes: business-class “Studios,” first-class “Apartments” and the massive, three-room “Residence,” which features its own butler and is the largest suite of its kind in the air.
The new classes arrive on Etihad’s recently acquired B-787 and Airbus A380 aircraft, the latter airliner launching between Abu Dhabi and New York on Dec. 1.
But as Etihad celebrates these industry-first achievements, the carrier has come under fire in the US. Major national carriers (particularly Delta) have jointly accused Etihad — along with regional rivals Emirates Airlines and Qatar Airways — of receiving more than $40 billion in government subsidies and violating international Open Skies agreements.
Travel between the US and Indian Subcontinent, the airlines say, has been particularly hurt by the Gulf carriers’ expansion. Delta has even petitioned the US Department of Transport to Etihad-subsidiary Air Serbia’s proposed code-share launch to the US.
Etihad insists its operates as fairly and transparent as any global carrier — and remains fully committed to its aggressive expansion plan. Indeed, CEO James Hogan describes Etihad as a “David … facing Goliaths” since its 2003 launch.
As a relatively young airline, Etihad “has had to work harder and work smarter,” he has said; “that’s called competition.”