Etihad to give its A380s luxury touch

[DUBAI] Etihad Airways PJSC said its Airbus Group NV A380s will target travellers seeking privacy and new levels of luxury when the jets join the fleet in December, months or years after flying with other premium carriers.

Etihad will fit the superjumbos with what it says will be the industry's largest first-class suites to help compete with Gulf rivals Emirates and Qatar Airways Ltd and other top-end operators such as Singapore Airlines Ltd and British Airways.

"We've taken the concept of private jets and put them into the A380," Etihad chief executive officer James Hogan said on Sunday in Abu Dhabi, announcing that the planes will serve New York, London and Paris, together with Sydney and Melbourne - cities that already have extensive A380 links.