Etihad Airways will begin operating the first regularly scheduled direct international passenger trip to Beijing, China, on June 29, 2022. Under the direction of China's Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council, a body established in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the service will be resumed.
A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will fly the once-weekly route for Etihad Airways. On Wednesday at 18:00, the first flight EY 888 will depart from Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) and land the following day at 05:25 at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK).
104 aircraft make up Etihad's fleet, of which 69 are operating and 35 are dormant, according to ch-aviation.com. Seven Airbus A320-200s, seven A321-200s, five A350-1000s, six Boeing B777-300ERs, thirty B787-9s, nine B787-10s, and five B777-200F freighters are among the operational aircraft. It has more than enough aircraft to start the new UAE to China links with to its 10 Airbus A380-800s and five Boeing B777-300ERs.
Etihad SVP global sales and cargo at Etihad Aviation Group, Martin Drew, said the airline is delighted to resume passenger services between Abu Dhabi and Beijing, adding, "China has always been an important strategic market for Etihad, and the resumption of direct flights between the two capital cities will further strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the United Arab Emirates."
