Abu Dhabi, Nov 3 (IANS): United Arab Emirates (UAE) flag carrier Etihad Airways will operate an Airbus A380 service between Abu Dhabi and Mumbai from May 1, 2016, with India’s commercial capital joining the carrier’s other A380 destinations of London, New York and Sydney.

The airline’s 496-seat A380 features the only three-room suite in commercial aviation, The Residence by Etihad, as well as nine First Apartments, 70 Business Studios, and 415 Economy Smart Seats.

The aircraft will operate daily on flight EY204 from Abu Dhabi to Mumbai, and EY203 from Mumbai to Abu Dhabi, both of which carry the 9W code of Jet Airways, Etihad Airways’ strategic partner. The flights connect seamlessly with Etihad Airways’ A380-operated services to New York, allowing guests to experience the double-decker aircraft throughout their journey.

"The Etihad Airways A380 has set a new benchmark for luxury and innovation and we are delighted to announce that this world-class service will soon be available to guests flying to and from Mumbai," James Hogan, Etihad Airways' President and Chief Executive Officer, said on Tuesday.

"The A380 out of Mumbai will connect seamlessly at our Abu Dhabi hub to the A380 service to New York, offering our New York-bound guests the comfort, convenience and superior inflight service of A380 flights all the way."

Etihad Airways’ thrice-daily service to Mumbai offers guests access to more than 2,000 weekly connections in 57 markets across the Gulf region, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and North America.

With a total capacity of 496 seats, the A380 has 50 percent more seats than the Boeing B777-300ER it replaces, offering more options for tourism growth into India, the US and Abu Dhabi.