Title: Etihad A380 Transition: Toronto Gets a Visit, NYC Waves Goodbye

Here’s one for the aviation buffs out there: Etihad Airways has pulled a rabbit out of the hat by announcing that its hefty Airbus A380s will be stretching their wings to land at a new destination. And for the armchair CEOs among you, the route losing the beloved A380 might just raise an eyebrow or two…

Etihad A380 to Stretch its Legs from Abu Dhabi to Toronto

Remember the early days of the pandemic when aviation gave us a heart attack by grounding fleets everywhere? Well, Etihad Airways put its beloved A380s in the hangar, with whispers of a possible permanent slumber. Then came summer 2023, when the airline decided it wasn’t ready to break up with the double-decker beauty.

Originally, the A380 was like that one friend who always shows up at the same party – exclusively jetting between Abu Dhabi and London. But then, like a teenager discovering a new hangout spot, Etihad expanded the A380’s stomping grounds to New York by April 2024, then gallivanted off to Paris by November 2024, and even took a detour to Singapore by February 2025. Fast forward, and we’ve got another update!

Come June 24, 2025, you’ll see this airborne giant making its way between Abu Dhabi and Toronto. This daily dance in the skies will adhere to a well-choreographed schedule:

EY21 Abu Dhabi to Toronto takes off at 2:40AM and lands at 9:00AM
EY22 Toronto back to Abu Dhabi departs at 1:40PM, landing at 11:00AM the next day.

This 6,924-mile journey clocks in at 14 hours and 20 minutes on the westward leg, while the eastbound flight shaves an hour off at 13 hours and 20 minutes. The move from the existing A350-1000 to the A380 signals a noticeable jump in seat supply.

Etihad is Swapping the A380 Away from New York

With just a half-dozen Airbus A380s in its stable, you might be wondering how Etihad manages to reshuffle them. It turns out, just as Toronto gains one, New York loses. The A380 tooling around the NYC skies will make way for its leaner sister, the A350-1000.

A quick game of musical planes sees New York and Toronto swapping their rides—the Big Apple gets the A350-1000 slated for Toronto, while Toronto inherits the A380 previously strutting through JFK runways.

Now, a few reasons might explain this strategic maneuver:

• A bilateral talk-fest between the UAE and Canada means there’s a cap on flights to Canada, leaving Etihad with limited maneuvering space to up Toronto’s quota.
• Whereas Toronto keeps a once-daily schedule with Etihad, New York enjoys a popular bi-daily service, so overall, NYC remains well-connected.
• This isn’t about fancy-pants flyers but rather about crowd numbers, so don’t jump to conclusions about premium seats just yet.
• Etihad can flex some competitive muscle more readily in Toronto than NYC, where big brother Emirates rules the skies with three daily A380 round-trips.

What the Etihad A380 Brings to the Passenger Experience

If you haven’t flown on an Etihad A380, think of it as flying in a floating palace. The plane seats a cool 485 people and has the kind of luxurious trappings you’d associate with, well, more than just flying – it’s an experience.

If you find yourself jetting off to Toronto with Etihad, be sure your jaw is ready for drop as Etihad rolls out The Residence. Ever wanted your own private suite with no nosy neighbors? Etihad can make that dream a reality at the front of their first-class cabin.

Back in the day, this exclusive escapade came with a hearty price tag running into tens of thousands. But with times changing faster than a rush-hour taxi meter, you can still snag an upgrade to this little haven—for a few grand, that is.

Then there’s the treat of flying in Etihad’s First Class Apartments. You’ll find nine of these rarefied suites, complete with a truly enviable level of privacy and comfort. Compared to Etihad’s other offerings, like the business class on the more common 787s, it really does feel like you’re living the good life.

Down the pecking order, business class passengers get to stretch out in the Business Studios. They’re comfy couches in high-altitude terms, but perhaps not the absolute pinnacle if you’ve seen Etihad’s tricked-out A350s.

Rounding out the cabin are 405 economy class seats—the cattle class for mere mortals, if you will. Even so, 80 of these come with sweet extra legroom, so who says economy flying can’t have its perks?

Bottom Line

So what does this jet-setting musical chairs mean? Well, from June 24, 2025, you’ll be able to catch an Etihad A380 stepping off from Toronto instead of New York. Whenever air travel’s big moves take place, they’re usually feeding frenzy for airline analysts – especially since these decisions are driven by those matchmaking-type bilateral agreements.

But don’t worry, New York still gets plenty of Etihad love with its dual daily flights. It’s just that Toronto’s hopping on the A380 bandwagon thanks to limitations up north.

Ready to see the world like a high-flyer? Go check it out at Val Seny Ski Resort, and tell us what you think about the big A380 shift to Toronto!