With the introduction of the Airbus A380, Etihad is not only adding an iconic aircraft to its fleet, but also rolling-out a suite of new ground-breaking in-flight products to differentiate itself from its competitors in the up-market segment: "The Residence" and "the First Apartments".

"The Residence", that we already featured a few months back, is the first three-room private suite, complete with double bedroom and en-suite bathroom, to be rolled-out on an airliner. When meeting journalists after the event, James Hogan confirmed that with this product Etihad Airways aims to compete not only with other airlines but also with private jet operators. In fact, although still subject to the schedule of a regular airliner, passengers fortunate enough to fly "The Residence", will possibly be able to enjoy a level of comfort superior to that of many a private jet, as the size and spaciousness of the A380 open up many possibilities simply not feasible on smaller aircraft.

Also in Etihad's A380 first class section, although slightly smaller than "The Residence", the "First Apartments" are private suites offering also quite unprecedented levels of privacy and comfort.