ABU DHABI- Etihad Airways (EY) has revised its summer schedule, replacing the Airbus A380 with the Boeing 787-9 on flights between Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) and Singapore Changi Airport (SIN).
The carrier is shifting its A380 capacity to Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG), where it plans to operate a double daily service supported by a third frequency four times a week. The reshuffle reflects broader A380 movements across global carriers serving Singapore (SIN) this summer.
Etihad Switches To The 787 On Singapore Route
According to Aeroroutes, Etihad Airways has filed an aircraft change for its daily Abu Dhabi to Singapore service.
The route was originally scheduled to be operated by the Airbus A380-800, but the carrier will now deploy the first-class-equipped Boeing 787-9 throughout the summer season, which runs from July 1 to October 24.
The change brings a significant capacity reduction on the route. Etihad’s A380 carries 484 to 494 passengers across four cabins, while the 787-9 seats 226 passengers. This translates into a total seat decline of around 53 percent, with business class capacity dropping by 60 percent and first class reducing by one seat.
| Aircraft | First Class | Business Class | Economy | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A380-800 | 9 | 70 | 405 / 415 | 484 / 494 |
| Boeing 787-9 | 8 | 28 | 190 | 226 |
| Seats Reduced | 1 (11%) | 42 (60%) | 215 / 225 (53–54%) | 258 / 268 (53–54%) |
Despite the aircraft change, the flight timings remain unchanged. Service EY498 departs Abu Dhabi at 9:40 PM and arrives in Singapore at 9:40 AM the next morning, while the return flight EY499 leaves Singapore at 9:00 PM and lands back in Abu Dhabi at 12:20 AM.
A380 Capacity Redirected To Paris
Etihad is using the freed-up A380 capacity to strengthen its presence in the French capital. The airline plans to operate two daily A380 services to Paris Charles De Gaulle (CDG), supported by a third frequency running four days a week. This marks a notable upgrade from the airline’s current mix of Boeing 787-9, Airbus A350-1000, and Airbus A320neo deployments on the route.
The updated summer schedule between Abu Dhabi and Paris is as follows:
| Flights | Current Aircraft | Summer Aircraft | AUH Departure | CDG Arrival | CDG Departure | AUH Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EY31 / EY32 | Airbus A350-1000 | Airbus A380-800 | 2:35 AM | 7:55 AM | 10:40 AM | 7:35 PM |
| EY35 / EY36 | Airbus A320neo | Boeing 787-9 | 8:50 AM | 2:00 PM | 4:05 PM | 12:45 AM (+1) |
| EY33 / EY34 | Boeing 787-9 | Airbus A380-800 | 2:20 PM | 7:30 PM | 9:50 PM | 6:30 AM (+1) |
Beyond Paris, Etihad’s A380 will also serve London Heathrow Airport (LHR) with two to three daily flights, Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT) on a daily basis, and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) once a day this summer, Simple Flying reported.
Wider A380 Movements Involving Singapore
The Middle East conflict has triggered widespread fleet reshuffles among the region’s superconnector airlines, with Singapore emerging as a key market affected by these changes. Several carriers had earlier planned A380 deployments to Singapore that are now being revised.
Singapore Airlines (SQ) had originally scheduled an A380 service to Dubai International Airport (DXB) this summer, but the plan has since been dropped. All three major Middle Eastern carriers were also expected to fly the A380 to Singapore.
Etihad has now opted out, and Qatar Airways (QR) does not anticipate resuming its A380 service to Singapore before September. Emirates (EK) continues operating the A380 on the route, although some daily services have been substituted with the Boeing 777-300ER.
In contrast, Singapore Airlines is deploying its A380 to Melbourne (MEL), Australia, while British Airways (BA) is preparing to bring its A380 to Singapore this summer. Because most carriers operate small A380 subfleets, with the exception of Emirates, every adjustment in superjumbo deployment signals shifting demand patterns between regions.
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