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Etihad Airways, an airline based in the United Arab Emirates, is drastically reducing its costs after years of serious financial difficulties and unsuccessful investments. Now the next step for Etihad is the one undertaken by many airlines to reduce overhead and maintenance costs. On a narrow-body aircraft, Etihad will remove the seatback screens from its economy cab.
The new Etihad in-flight entertainment system
Etihad does not completely remove its in-flight entertainment system from A320 family aircraft. Instead, Etihad will offer wireless entertainment. This new system will be accessible via Etihad's wireless Internet connection. According to Etihad, this system will provide nearly 300 hours of streaming entertainment. However, if you like the choice, Etihad offers you a wider selection via the E-BOX STREAM app. Customers will need to download this app to their device before departure. However, once on board and connected, the system will allow passengers to access a greater number of movies and TV options.
Which aircraft will lose the file screens?
If you're worried about whether or not Etihad will offer file screens on its long-haul flights to destinations like Sydney or Los Angeles, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Etihad said all of its wide-body aircraft would keep file screens. Only the Etihad fleet of A320 and A321 narrowbody aircraft will see economical cabs without backrests.
The retention of file screens on large aircraft reflects the practices of other full-service carriers. After all, if you spend 8 to 14 hours on a plane, it is nice to be able to watch animations while eating or lying down.
If you fly on shorter Etihad routes operated by A320 family aircraft, you can expect to see these planes lose in-flight entertainment. Etihad introduces a new cabin experience on its A320 family aircraft. This includes a new seat designed by the British company Acro. This Extra-spacial Design seat sounds great on paper, but in reality it looks more like a way for Etihad to cut costs and increase profits.
What do I do with my device?
On a Virgin Australia flight, I remember having trouble finding a location to place the provided tablet in order to continue my movie during meal service. Etihad and Acro seem to recognize the potential frustration of passengers and have introduced a slight solution.
The new Etihad narrow-body seat should allow easy access for charging via USB and a phone and tablet stand. It's good to see Etihad think about the future and focus on improving the passenger experience. However, not all tablets and phones are the same. It will be interesting to see how Etihad's new tablet seat support will adapt to phones and tablets of varying sizes.
Is it really good for passengers?
Most passengers will likely find these changes detrimental to their flying experience with Etihad. I agree with these passengers. No matter the cabin class, I really prefer to have file screens for recreation. It saves space, time to connect to the online portal and it's one less thing that I have to take with me to travel. Some Etihad A320 family aircraft flying for up to five hours, I would much prefer another carrier with a fantastic in-flight entertainment system.
Of course, Etihad tries to present this as a positive change. Etihad says they install "modern and refreshed" cabs on their planes. While USB power outlets and tablet racks are relatively modern in the aircraft seats, the lack of IFE on the new A320 Family aircraft lacks a bit of modernity.
Do you prefer flying with a folder screen? Would you like to avoid Etihad's narrow-body aircraft once the screens are removed from the files? Let us know in the comments!
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