Etihad Airways has transitioned to an all Airbus A350-1000 (A350) operation on its Sydney – Abu Dhabi route.

The all A350 schedule was accelerated two months to accommodate increasing premium demand and guest popularity, following the aircraft’s introduction on select flights from October this year.

Etihad now operates 10 weekly A350-1000 flights from Sydney, including double-daily services on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.

The airline is working toward increasing A350 services to 14 weekly, or double-daily in future, in line with the ongoing expansion of its A350 fleet – reinforcing its commitment to strengthening connectivity between Australia and Abu Dhabi.

The Melbourne – Abu Dhabi route continues to operate daily with the Boeing 787-9 aircraft, and like Sydney, will feature the latest business suites from February 1, 2026.

“Transitioning Sydney to all-A350 reflects our long-standing commitment to delivering a superior experience for Australian guests,” said Javier Alija, Vice President Global Sales and Distribution of Etihad Airways.

“The change sees our Boeing 777-300ER exit Australian skies, with both Sydney and Melbourne being flown with the latest luxury Etihad product across all cabins.

“And with demand for premium capacity continuing to rise, our new A350 product positions us to deliver more luxury, privacy, comfort and premium service from one of our most important international markets.”

The A350-1000 features 44 private business studios with sliding doors, fully-flat 79” beds, 18.5” UHD touch screens and wireless charging, and 327 economy smart seats with enhanced recline and 13-inch touch screens.

Guests also have access to high speed Wi-Fly on all Australian services.

Travellers from Sydney and Melbourne can connect via Abu Dhabi to more than 90 destinations worldwide, with 32 new additions announced in 2025, including popular European cities such as Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, Geneva, Krakow, Palma and Prague.

https://www.etihad.com/en-au