30 May 2016 © David Eyre
Etihad surprised the locals with an early visit to Perth by its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner today, in place of the usual Airbus A330-200.
As reported on AviationWA in December 2015, the 787 was due to replace the A330-200 on Etihad’s EY486/EY487 service between Abu Dhabi and Perth from 1 June 2016 (arriving 2 June).
It is not known why the 787 was operating the route today, but may have been due to the scheduled Airbus A330-200 having a technical issue.
Today’s surprise visit was flown by A6-BLF (MSN 39651/416), the sixth 787 out of seven delivered to Etihad so far. The aircraft is only two months old, having first flown on 31 Mar 2016 and was delivered to Etihad on 29 April 2016, entering service on 1 May 2016 as the first Dreamliner service on the Abu Dhabi – Dusseldorf route. A6-BLF is in two-class configuration, with 22 Business Class seats and 240 Economy Class seats for a total of 262 passengers.
A6-BLF departed gate 60 at Abu Dhabi as flight EY486 around 1 hour 13 minutes behind schedule, at 11:43pm Abu Dhabi time (3:43am Perth time) – it was scheduled to depart at 10:30pm (Abu Dhabi time). However, the aircraft was able to make up time en route by using a higher cruise speed, landing on Perth’s runway 06 at 1:47pm, after a flight of 10 hours 4 minutes and parked at Bay 150 (Gate 50) at Terminal 1 Domestic at 1:56pm.
The return flight EY487 to Abu Dhabi took off from Perth’s runway 21 at 5:15pm.
Etihad commenced services to Perth from Abu Dhabi on 16 July 2014, with the initial service flown by an Airbus A340-600, but the Airbus A330-200 normally operated the service.
The official regular Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner service by Etihad is still scheduled to commence from 1 June 2016, arriving in Perth on 2 June 2016.
Perth Airport now has five different Boeing 787 operators: Air New Zealand (787-9), China Southern (787-8), Etihad (787-9), Scoot (787-9) and Thai (787-8).
*First visit by an Etihad Boeing 787 to Perth.* Etihad’s 787-9 aircraft were due to replace the Airbus A330-200 on EY486/EY487 Abu Dhabi – Perth services from 1 June 2016 (arriving 2 June). However, an A330 had a technical issue, so a 787 operated the service. Flight EY486 from Abu Dhabi is seen here at 1:47pm, landing on runway 06. This aircraft is only 2 months old.
Photo © David Eyre
First visit to Perth by an Etihad 787 Dreamliner, this aircraft was only delivered one month ago on 29 April and is seen here about to touch down on runway 06 at 1:44 pm.
Photo © Keith Anderson (Photographed using Canon cameras and lenses)
First visit to Perth by an Etihad 787 Dreamliner, this aircraft was only delivered one month ago on 29 April and is seen here about to touch down on runway 06 at 1:44 pm.
Photo © Keith Anderson (Photographed using Canon cameras and lenses)
*First visit by an Etihad Boeing 787 to Perth.* Etihad’s 787-9 aircraft were due to replace the Airbus A330-200 on EY486/EY487 Abu Dhabi – Perth services from 1 June 2016 (arriving 2 June). However, an A330 had a technical issue, so a 787 operated the service. Flight EY486 from Abu Dhabi is seen here at 1:47pm, landing on runway 06. This aircraft is only 2 months old.
Photo © David Eyre
*First visit by an Etihad Boeing 787 to Perth.* Etihad’s 787-9 aircraft were due to replace the Airbus A330-200 on EY486/EY487 Abu Dhabi – Perth services from 1 June 2016 (arriving 2 June). However, an A330 had a technical issue, so a 787 operated the service. Flight EY486 from Abu Dhabi is seen here at 1:47pm, landing on runway 06. This aircraft is only 2 months old.
Photo © David Eyre
First visit to Perth by an Etihad 787 Dreamliner, this aircraft was only delivered one month ago on 29 April and is seen here about to touch down on runway 06 at 1:44 pm.
Photo © Keith Anderson (Photographed using Canon cameras and lenses)
*First visit by an Etihad Boeing 787 to Perth.* Etihad’s 787-9 aircraft were due to replace the Airbus A330-200 on EY486/EY487 Abu Dhabi – Perth services from 1 June 2016 (arriving 2 June). However, an A330 had a technical issue, so a 787 operated the service. Flight EY486 from Abu Dhabi is seen here at 1:47pm, landing on runway 06. This aircraft is only 2 months old.
Photo © David Eyre
First visit to Perth by an Etihad 787 Dreamliner, this aircraft was only delivered one month ago on 29 April and is seen here about to touch down on runway 06 at 1:44 pm.
Photo © Keith Anderson (Photographed using Canon cameras and lenses)
*First visit by an Etihad Boeing 787 to Perth.* Etihad’s 787-9 aircraft were due to replace the Airbus A330-200 on EY486/EY487 Abu Dhabi – Perth services from 1 June 2016 (arriving 2 June). However, an A330 had a technical issue, so a 787 operated the service. Flight EY486 from Abu Dhabi is seen here at 1:47pm, landing on runway 06. This aircraft is only 2 months old.
Photo © David Eyre
First visit to Perth by an Etihad 787 Dreamliner, this aircraft was only delivered one month ago on 29 April and is seen here touching down on runway 06 at 1:44 pm.
Photo © Ben Cambridge
* First visit by an Etihad Boeing 787 to Perth.* Etihad’s 787-9 aircraft were due to replace the Airbus A330-200 on EY486/EY487 Abu Dhabi – Perth services from 1 June 2016 (arriving 2 June). However, an A330 was replaced (perhaps due to technical issue), with a 787 today. Flight EY486 is seen here at 1:56pm, arriving on Bay 150 (Gate 50) at Terminal 1 Domestic pier. This aircraft is only 2 months old.
Photo © Jim Woodrow
* First visit by an Etihad Boeing 787 to Perth.* Etihad’s 787-9 aircraft were due to replace the Airbus A330-200 on EY486/EY487 Abu Dhabi – Perth services from 1 June 2016 (arriving 2 June). However, an A330 was replaced (perhaps due to technical issue), with a 787 today. Flight EY486 is seen here at 1:56pm, arriving on Bay 150 (Gate 50) at Terminal 1 Domestic pier. This aircraft is only 2 months old.
Photo © Jim Woodrow
* First visit by an Etihad Boeing 787 to Perth.* Etihad’s 787-9 aircraft were due to replace the Airbus A330-200 on EY486/EY487 Abu Dhabi – Perth services from 1 June 2016 (arriving 2 June). However, an A330 was replaced (perhaps due to technical issue), with a 787 today. Flight EY486 is seen here at 1:56pm, arriving on Bay 150 (Gate 50) at Terminal 1 Domestic pier. This aircraft is only 2 months old.
Photo © Jim Woodrow
*First visit by an Etihad Boeing 787 to Perth.* Etihad’s 787-9 aircraft were due to replace the Airbus A330-200 on EY486/EY487 Abu Dhabi – Perth services from 1 June 2016 (arriving 2 June). However, an A330 had a technical issue, so a 787 operated the service. Flight EY487 to Abu Dhabi is seen here at 5:15pm, taking off from runway 21. This aircraft is only 2 months old.
Photo © David Eyre
First visit to Perth by an Etihad 787 Dreamliner, this aircraft was only delivered one month ago on 29 April and is seen here taking off from runway 21 at 5:12 pm.
Photo © Keith Anderson (Photographed using Canon cameras and lenses)
*First visit by an Etihad Boeing 787 to Perth.* Etihad’s 787-9 aircraft were due to replace the Airbus A330-200 on EY486/EY487 Abu Dhabi – Perth services from 1 June 2016 (arriving 2 June). However, an A330 had a technical issue, so a 787 operated the service. Flight EY487 to Abu Dhabi is seen here at 5:15pm, taking off from runway 21. This aircraft is only 2 months old.
Photo © David Eyre
First visit to Perth by an Etihad 787 Dreamliner, this aircraft was only delivered one month ago on 29 April and is seen here taking off from runway 21 at 5:12 pm.
Photo © Keith Anderson (Photographed using Canon cameras and lenses)
*First visit by an Etihad Boeing 787 to Perth.* Etihad’s 787-9 aircraft were due to replace the Airbus A330-200 on EY486/EY487 Abu Dhabi – Perth services from 1 June 2016 (arriving 2 June). However, an A330 had a technical issue, so a 787 operated the service. Flight EY487 to Abu Dhabi is seen here at 5:15pm, taking off from runway 21. This aircraft is only 2 months old.
Photo © David Eyre
*First visit by an Etihad Boeing 787 to Perth.* Etihad’s 787-9 aircraft were due to replace the Airbus A330-200 on EY486/EY487 Abu Dhabi – Perth services from 1 June 2016 (arriving 2 June). However, an A330 had a technical issue, so a 787 operated the service. Flight EY487 to Abu Dhabi is seen here at 5:15pm, taking off from runway 21. This aircraft is only 2 months old.
Photo © David Eyre
First visit to Perth by an Etihad 787 Dreamliner, this aircraft was only delivered one month ago on 29 April and is seen here taking off from runway 21 at 5:12 pm.
Photo © Keith Anderson (Photographed using Canon cameras and lenses)
*First visit by an Etihad Boeing 787 to Perth.* Etihad’s 787-9 aircraft were due to replace the Airbus A330-200 on EY486/EY487 Abu Dhabi – Perth services from 1 June 2016 (arriving 2 June). However, an A330 had a technical issue, so a 787 operated the service. Flight EY487 to Abu Dhabi is seen here at 5:15pm, taking off from runway 21. This aircraft is only 2 months old.
Photo © David Eyre
*First visit by an Etihad Boeing 787 to Perth.* Etihad’s 787-9 aircraft were due to replace the Airbus A330-200 on EY486/EY487 Abu Dhabi – Perth services from 1 June 2016 (arriving 2 June). However, an A330 had a technical issue, so a 787 operated the service. Flight EY487 to Abu Dhabi is seen here at 5:15pm, taking off from runway 21. This aircraft is only 2 months old.
Photo © David Eyre
First visit to Perth by an Etihad 787 Dreamliner, this aircraft was only delivered one month ago on 29 April and is seen here taking off from runway 21 at 5:12 pm.
Photo © Keith Anderson (Photographed using Canon cameras and lenses)
*First visit by an Etihad Boeing 787 to Perth.* Etihad’s 787-9 aircraft were due to replace the Airbus A330-200 on EY486/EY487 Abu Dhabi – Perth services from 1 June 2016 (arriving 2 June). However, an A330 had a technical issue, so a 787 operated the service. Flight EY487 to Abu Dhabi is seen here at 5:15pm, taking off from runway 21. This aircraft is only 2 months old.
Photo © David Eyre
*First visit by an Etihad Boeing 787 to Perth.* Etihad’s 787-9 aircraft were due to replace the Airbus A330-200 on EY486/EY487 Abu Dhabi – Perth services from 1 June 2016 (arriving 2 June). However, an A330 had a technical issue, so a 787 operated the service. Flight EY487 to Abu Dhabi is seen here at 5:15pm, taking off from runway 21. This aircraft is only 2 months old.
Photo © David Eyre
*First visit by an Etihad Boeing 787 to Perth.* Etihad’s 787-9 aircraft were due to replace the Airbus A330-200 on EY486/EY487 Abu Dhabi – Perth services from 1 June 2016 (arriving 2 June). However, an A330 had a technical issue, so a 787 operated the service. Flight EY487 to Abu Dhabi is seen here at 5:15pm, taking off from runway 21. This aircraft is only 2 months old.
Photo © David Eyre
