David Eyre 
A6-EYI Airbus A330-243 (MSN 730) of Etihad, at Perth Airport – Wed 1 June 2016. The final scheduled Etihad A330-200 service from Perth, before the airline switched to the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Flight EY487 to Abu Dhabi is seen here lining up on runway 03 for take-off at 5:13 pm. Photo © David Eyre
10 April 2018 © David Eyre
Etihad Airways will cease flying the daily Abu Dhabi – Perth services later this year, with the last flight departing Abu Dhabi on 30 September 2018, arriving and departing Perth on 1 October 2018.
The airline states this decision was made as part of a review of the profitability of its route network.
Etihad has faced strong competition from Emirates with its double daily services using A380s and Boeing 777s, as well as Qatar Airways with Boeing 777s upgrading to Airbus A380s from 1 May 2018.
Etihad recently decided to downgrade services from the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to revert back to using the Airbus A330-200 aircraft from 14 April 2018.
Current schedule (daily: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner until 14 April 2018; then Airbus A330-200):
- EY486 AUH 2150 – PER 1300 (next day)
- EY487 PER 1730 – AUH 0100 (next day)
History of Etihad services to Perth
The first service by Etihad is welcomed by a water cannon salute by the Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service as it taxies in. Flight EY486 departed Abu Dhabi 45 minutes late and landed on runway 21 at Perth at 13:41 local (scheduled to be at the gate by 13:10), after a flight of 10 hours 45 minutes from Abu Dhabi. Although the first service was operated by an A340-600, the service is to be operated by A330-200 aircraft.
Photo © Kirk Christie
Etihad commenced services to Perth on 16 July 2014, with the initial service operated by an Airbus A340-600, A6-EHH.
Subsequent services were operated by Airbus A330-200s.
The first Etihad A330 of what will now be a daily flight, landing on runway 03 at 2:27pm
Photo © Keith Anderson
* 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
This was a prelude to the official start of Etihad’s Boeing 787 services on 2 June 2016, by A6-BLG.
A6-BLG’s first visit to Perth, and the beginning of regular Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner services to Perth by Etihad, replacing the Airbus A330-200. Flight EY486 from Abu Dhabi is receiving a water cannon salute from airport fire crews as it taxies in at 1:30pm.
Photo © Russell Barton, used with permission of Etihad Airways
The airline decided to downgrade Perth services from 14 April 2018, reverting back to using Airbus A330-200s.
On 10 April 2018, the airline announced the end of Perth services from 1 October 2018.
