Boeing announced on Monday that they will broaden their sustainability alliance with Etihad Airways with 787-10 ecoDemonstrator testing to begin in August. Etihad Airways will also resume service to Shanghai from July 27, 2020.
Boeing announced on Monday the broadening of their sustainability alliance with Etihad Airways launched in November 2019 with 787-10 ecoDemonstrator testing to begin in August. The goal of the program is to test ways to reduce noise and emissions on the ‘Greenliner’ prior to delivering the aircraft to Etihad this fall. In collaboration with NASA and Safran Landing Systems, the partnership will include extensive sound measurement testing and other technologies to make aviation safer and more sustainable for the future. The August 2020 testing program will last around four weeks, using Etihad’s pre-delivery Boeing 787-10 ecoDemonstrator a s test-bed for the first time. In Monday’s announcement, Etihad Aviation Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Tony Douglas said,
“This is the latest program under Etihad’s industry-leading strategic partnership with Boeing, focusing on innovation real-world solutions to key sustainability challenges facing the aviation industry. The ecoDemonstrator program is founded on innovation and sustainability – and these are core values for Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates. Etihad and Boeing see a great opportunity to collaborate and share knowledge to minimize the impact of aviation on the environment.”
Also commenting on today’s announcement, Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO, Stan Deal added,
“Industry collaboration is a key aspect of Boeing’s ecoDemonstrator program that enables us to accelerate innovation. We’re proud to broaden our sustainability partnership with Etihad Airways by testing promising technologies that can reduce emissions, help commercial aviation meet our climate goals, and allow the industry to grow in a responsible manner that respects our planet and its natural resources.”
In partnership with NASA and Safran, Boeing and Etihad will conduct aircraft noise measurements from sensors both on the aircraft as well as the ground. The tests will help validate aircraft noise prediction processes and the sound reduction potential in aircraft design, including landing gear modification for quieter operation. Additionally, testing will include a flight where pilots, air traffic control and Etihad’s operations center will simultaneously share digital flight information. The information will be used to optimize routing efficiency, enhance safety by reducing workload and reduce unnecessary radio congestion. The ecoDemonstrator test flights will be conducted using a blend of sustainable aviation fuel which substantially reduces the aircraft’s environmental footprint.
In a separate announcement today (July 20, 2020), Etihad Airways announced that they will resume service between Abu Dhabi and Shanghai from July 27, 2020. The once-weekly flight will operate with a Boeing 777-300ER featuring Business and Economy Class cabins. In Monday’s announcement, Etihad Aviation Group’s Chief Commercial Officer, Robin Kamark said,
“We are delighted to announce the resumption of scheduled services to China, as we gradually return to more destinations on our global network, supporting the recovery of economic and social activities worldwide. Our priority now is to build the network back up on markets that have opened up and to provide a secure and hygienic flying environment across the entire guest journey. The restarting of passenger service between Abu Dhabi and Shanghai will cater to the large demand from business travellers in the UAE, China, and other economies in the Middle east and Africa. We are tremendously grateful to our customers and partners for their continued loyalty and we stand ready to fly more frequencies to China when possible.”
Guests traveling to China on Etihad Airways will be required to show a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure from Abu Dhabi or their departure airport if transferring in Abu Dhabi. In collaboration with Mediclinic, UAE-based customers can book (for a fee) an at-home COVID-19 PCR test or at one of Mediclinic’s facilities in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain or Dubai.
Source(s): Boeing, Etihad Airways