Etihad has unveiled its long-awaited Airbus A350-1000 with a one-off flight from Abu Dhabi to Paris carrying diplomatic dignitaries, industry guests and other VIPs. The fuel-efficient aircraft is the first of five joining Etihad's fleet in coming months, as part of a green-focused partnership with Airbus and Rolls Royce formed in 2021. Named Sustainability50, the aircraft features special livery that reflects Etihad's pledge to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, as well as recognising the 50th anniversary of the federation of the United Arab Emirates. Etihad is based in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. Etihad senior vice president for sales and cargo Martin Drew said the airline will roll out the A350s on short- to mid-range services initially, before introducing them to long-haul routes across the network. "The deployment plan is to fly our A350s regionally in Q2 (the second quarter of this year), after which we will introduce it on longer haul routes to Chicago and New York in Q3, followed by London in Q4," Drew said at the airline's Australian 15th anniversary gala in Sydney last Thursday. Operations to Chicago and New York are on track to launch from July. Mikail Houari, Airbus president for Africa and Middle East, said the A350-1000 sets "new standards of air travel", with "unrivalled levels of operational efficiency". That includes a 25 per cent reduction in fuel burn and emissions. "This marks the start of a promising new chapter for the UAE's aviation sector, led by innovation and a commitment to sustainability," Houari said.<br/>