Inside Etihad’s New Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner With Updated Business and Economy Class Cabins

Eithad recently announced some updates to its business class and economy products, which will be found exclusively onboard its future Boeing 787-9 deliveries.

One such Boeing 787-9 was onsite at the Dubai Airshow, and Upgraded Points was invited to take a tour.

We’re excited to show you the updates to this product as it is yet to be experienced by paying passengers.

Business Class

While Etihad does indeed offer first class, it’s only found on its Airbus A380s, some of its Boeing 777-300s, and a handful of its Boeing 787-9s.

The rest of its jets are made up of only business and economy class, as the UAE flag carrier doesn’t offer a premium economy product.

That said, the most common premium product is the airline’s business class, which has received both major and minor tweaks in the name of passenger comfort and experience.

Perhaps the most noticeable new feature (and most appreciated by passengers) will be the addition of a sliding door and higher walls of the seat that curve at the top. Etihad hopes that these design enhancements will add to the feeling of privacy for its passengers.

Unfortunately, the doors were locked and immovable during our visit.

The seat also boasts a larger stowage compartment than the airline’s other jets.

Rather than being fixed to 3 or 4 different settings, tray tables are moveable without restriction. This small but effective design update means that passengers should find it easier to find a position that suits them while eating.

Etihad has also simplified the at-seat controls, including the handheld IFE remote, which now features fewer buttons as well as a touch scroller for easier, less clunky navigation.

Those with a keen eye will notice the introduction of leather as the material of choice for the footrests.

Etihad also took the opportunity to display its limited edition amenity kit, which celebrates the airline’s 20-year anniversary. Gorgeous, right?

Economy Class

The economy class cabin looks sleeker than ever thanks to the more slimline seats.

This, according to Etihad, will not impact the comfort of passengers but rather gives the feeling of more space in economy.

The most noticeable change is for passengers seated at the bulkheads as, where possible, Etihad has mounted the Rave Ultra 13.3-inch 4K touchscreen monitors onto the wall itself.

This makes seat egress far easier for passengers throughout their journey.

Comfort is clearly the main reason for the change, but it’s undeniable that the IFE screens also look so much better when mounted on the bulkhead.

An honorary mention must be made regarding the strives forward in sustainability that Etihad is making with the economy class meal service.

The only items that are not reusable or recyclable are the paper napkins and drink stirrers.

To finish, here are a couple more shots of the empty plane cabin.

And here’s one from the back of the cabin for good measure.

Final Thoughts

Innovations in products that have a positive impact on passenger experience and comfort are always worth writing home about.

In the case of Etihad’s future Boeing 787-9 deliveries, these changes, which may appear insignificant at the outset, will undoubtedly add to a better all-round experience for both economy and business class passengers alike.

Etihad has yet to reveal when its latest 787-9s will enter service. Rest assured, we’ll update you as soon as this changes.