Etihad Airways: Aircraft change on the Abu Dhabi–Casablanca route

Etihad Airways has confirmed an aircraft change on the route connecting Abu Dhabi and Casablanca, a move expected to last only a few months. The specialized website AeroRoutes spotted the modification while analyzing the airline’s booking data: between October 25, 2026, and January 31, 2027, a Boeing 777-300ER will replace the Airbus A350-1000 originally scheduled for this route during the upcoming winter season.

Ironically, Casablanca had only recently received the A350-1000. The Gulf carrier had upgraded its service to Morocco on July 1, replacing the Boeing 787-9, which had previously operated the route, with the A350.

Etihad has not provided an official reason for this reversal. Such adjustments, common among airlines in the months leading up to a schedule taking effect, can stem from fleet requirements elsewhere in the network, maintenance constraints, or capacity realignment based on demand.

Noting that Etihad Airways faces indirect competition on this route from three airlines connecting Abu Dhabi to Casablanca with a stopover: Royal Jordanian via Amman, Saudi Airlines via Jeddah and Riyadh, and Air France via Paris.

Schedules remain unchanged

The aircraft swap entails no changes to schedules or flight frequency. The airline will continue to offer a daily flight in both directions, operating seven round-trip flights per week:

EY757: departs Abu Dhabi at 02:05, arrives in Casablanca at 06:20

EY758: departs Casablanca at 08:35, arrives in Abu Dhabi at 19:40

Two cabins, two very different experiences

The choice of aircraft is not merely a technical detail; it directly determines the level of comfort on board. Etihad’s A350-1000 features a state-of-the-art cabin with 44 Business Class suites, equipped with sliding doors, 18.5-inch personal screens, and wireless charging, in a configuration the airline markets as the “next-generation Business Studio.”

The 777-300ER, meanwhile, belongs to an older generation of cabin design. Etihad operates several versions of this aircraft, featuring either two or three classes depending on the configuration, making the passenger experience less predictable. Depending on the specific version deployed to Casablanca, the number of available seats and the level of Business Class comfort can vary significantly (typically around 40 Business seats on this aircraft type, compared to 44 on the A350).