Plus Etihad scheduling updates.
Etihad Airways is delivering its latest Boeing 787-9 private business class suites to Sydney and Melbourne, heightening their premium travel option for long haul travellers.
New Dreamliners feature a second-generation of the Airbus A350 business suites including sliding privacy doors, increased space, USB-C and wireless charging and a 17.3” 4K screen with Bluetooth headphone pairing.
Sydney updates
Etihad will increase its Sydney-Abu Dhabi service to 10 weekly flights from 1 July 2025, offering five afternoon (Boeing 787-9) and five evening (Boeing 777-300ER) departures with double-daily service on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. The transition to the latest Boeing 787-9s will commence in Sydney from 3 August.
The upgrades will continue through the rest of 2025 and into Q1 2026. On 1 October 2025, the Boeing 777s will be fully replaced by the larger Airbus A350-1000 four times a week (with a Boeing 787-9 flying on Saturdays). Finally, from 1 February 2026, all of Etihad’s Sydney flights will be flown on the A350-1000, increasing total premium cabin capacity by 20%.
Melbourne updates
Etihad’s schedule out of Melbourne currently operates eight flights per week with varying departure and arrival times on different days. From 1 October 2025, the airline will debut an optimised schedule with minor adjustments to flights EY460 and EY461 and the cessation of flights EY462 and EY463 as of 30 September.
Melbourne flights will continue to operate with the current Boeing 787-9, featuring 28 Business Class studio seats, until 1 February 2026. Coinciding with Sydney’s transition to an all A350 schedule, the upgraded 787-9 with 32 doored-Business Class suites will take over the Melbourne route.
