Etihad and Abu Dhabi International welcome first guests to Terminal A

Etihad flight EY224, from Abu Dhabi to New Delhi, departed Terminal A today at 14.35. The flight used one of the airline’s Airbus A350-1000, with 359 guests onboard.

To commemorate the occasion, all passengers, including those in both Economy and Business classes, had the opportunity to be the inaugural guests at the new flagship Etihad Lounges which span three floors at Terminal A.

After sampling a special menu of celebratory cuisine at the Etihad Lounge, guests made their way to Gate C27, where themed decorations and a photo booth awaited to capture this historic moment.

The ceremonial flight was officially inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by a distinguished array of guests, including Etihad and Abu Dhabi Airport Board members and aviation leaders.

Among those present were Etihad's CEO, Antonoaldo Neves, as well as Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and Interim CEO and Frank McCrorie, Chief Operations Officer at Abu Dhabi Airports. Antonoaldo and Frank both gave speeches to officially welcome the airport’s first guests.

Antonoaldo Neves, chief executive officer, Etihad, said: “This is a pivotal and exciting moment in Etihad’s history. As we begin to celebrate our 20th anniversary in November, we are ready for the next growth chapter in our new home.

“Our congratulations go to the Abu Dhabi leadership for their vision in creating what is one of the world’s most spectacular airports. The terminal is a stunning piece of architecture that echoes the local landscape and warmly welcomes our guests and elevates their travel experience.

“As we begin our transition to our new home, we look forward to welcoming even more passengers as we continue to grow and expand our fleet and network.”

Elena Sorlini, managing director and Interim CEO at Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “This is an historic moment for Abu Dhabi International Airport, our partners at Etihad Airways, and the emirate as whole.

“The first flight from Terminal A marks a major milestone in the journey of Abu Dhabi’s aviation sector. Terminal A brings a significant increase to capacity, and delivers state-of-the-art facilities to both airlines and passengers.

“We look forward to welcoming more passengers throughout November as we continue to increase the number of flights departing and arriving at Terminal A.”