Virgin Australia partner Etihad Airways will boost its Sydney-Abu Dhabi flights to double-daily from next year, up from 11 flights per week at present.

As of February 6 2017, flight EY451 from Sydney takes wing on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, complementing existing flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, to become a daily service.

It’s a similar case for flight EY450 on the return from Abu Dhabi which also moves to daily.

Using a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, passengers can relax in the comfort of eight first class suites at the very front:

AusBT review: Etihad Boeing 777 first class, Sydney-Abu Dhabi

You’ll also find 40 business class seats, each extending into a fully-flat bed and providing direct aisle access for every passenger:

AusBT review: Etihad Boeing 777 business class, Abu Dhabi-Sydney

Flights EY455 and EY454 continue to run daily using Etihad’s flagship Airbus A380 aircraft, complete with ‘The Residence’: a private three-room suite for VIPs with a separate lounge room, bedroom and bathroom with your own shower:

Photos: Inside Etihad Airways’ ‘The Residence’ suite

Not quite so cashed up? That’s OK: you can book your own apartment in first class with a separate bed and lounge chair:

Read: Up close with Etihad’s A380 first class apartments

Business class also sports the airline’s newest Business Studio seating – the same as found on Etihad’s Boeing 787 aircraft flying to Brisbane and Perth – with modern fully-flat beds joined by ‘The Lobby’: an on-board lounge for socialising with fellow travellers.

AusBT review: Etihad Business Studio business class, Brisbane-Abu Dhabi

Also read: Review of Etihad’s Airbus A380 The Lobby lounge

Come early February, Virgin Australia will axe its three-times-weekly Sydney-Abu Dhabi flights entirely, with Etihad’s additional services taking their place.

Virgin Australia will also launch its own Perth-Abu Dhabi flights in June 2017.

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