Etihad A340-600 A6-EHK performed a fly-past of the Opera House. (digitally altered image by Seth Jaworski)
An Etihad A340-600 performed a low-altitude aerial salute to Sydney Opera House as part of the iconic building’s 40th birthday celebrations. The aircraft operating the commemorative flight – EY9240 – flew at approximately 2,000ft over the Opera House and along the Sydney Harbour foreshore.
The fly-past was watched by more than 10,000 who had gathered to celebrate the venue’s birthday. The Abu Dhabi-based airline is a major partner of the Opera House.
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Good to see, but where was Qantas or even Virgin airlines, surely they should have been doing a flyby.
Just a thought on my part.
Ron
says:
A “salute”? Sounds more like an advertisement. My question is, was it a paid advertisement? It’s nice that Etihad might want to pay tribute to our icon, but they could do that in a full page colour newspaper ad if they wanted to, which is certainly easier than the strings that have to be pulled to do a low altitude flyby over Sydney Harbour. After the QF/Emirates formation flyover, it seems Etihad is firing a PR shot back at it’s fellow mid-eastern competitor.
Brett
says:
How Australian. We have a Saudi-Arabian based aircraft commemorating part Australia’s history. I agree with John, where were Qantas?
Brian
says:
Obviously Etihad are major sponsors of the opera house as it said in the article and QF is not.
just another case of Qantas letting itself be overrun by foreign carriers
Case in point, in PER there are around 50 international departures daily QF have ONE of the total they don’t deserve the support unless they support the community themselves with more flights and more sponsorship
Rodney Marinkovic
says:
Amazing grace over great Australian icon, Sydney white Opera house and white Airbus of ETIHAD AIRWAYS.
Greeting, Rod Marinkovic, AME (ret.) Griffith NSW. / Kraljevo Serbia.
Stu
says:
Brett,
Etihad is based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia is a different country
Andrew Dean
says:
I agree with Brian. One international QF flight per day from Perth is atrocious. And… what about the Air India flights to SYD and MEL. They see a strong market there – why didn’t Alan Joyce spot that and EXPAND to help the airline, rather than follow his low cost cutting mentality…?????
Andrew McLaughlin
says:
Maybe comments more suitable for a different thread?
Jake
says:
No Brett, Etihad is based in the UAE, not Saudi Arabia…and who cares whether they’re Australia or not. The arts needs as much support as we can get.
iscover
John Harrison
says:Good to see, but where was Qantas or even Virgin airlines, surely they should have been doing a flyby.
Just a thought on my part.
Ron
says:A “salute”? Sounds more like an advertisement. My question is, was it a paid advertisement? It’s nice that Etihad might want to pay tribute to our icon, but they could do that in a full page colour newspaper ad if they wanted to, which is certainly easier than the strings that have to be pulled to do a low altitude flyby over Sydney Harbour. After the QF/Emirates formation flyover, it seems Etihad is firing a PR shot back at it’s fellow mid-eastern competitor.
Brett
says:How Australian. We have a Saudi-Arabian based aircraft commemorating part Australia’s history. I agree with John, where were Qantas?
Brian
says:Obviously Etihad are major sponsors of the opera house as it said in the article and QF is not.
just another case of Qantas letting itself be overrun by foreign carriers
Case in point, in PER there are around 50 international departures daily QF have ONE of the total they don’t deserve the support unless they support the community themselves with more flights and more sponsorship
Rodney Marinkovic
says:Amazing grace over great Australian icon, Sydney white Opera house and white Airbus of ETIHAD AIRWAYS.
Greeting, Rod Marinkovic, AME (ret.) Griffith NSW. / Kraljevo Serbia.
Stu
says:Brett,
Etihad is based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia is a different country
Andrew Dean
says:I agree with Brian. One international QF flight per day from Perth is atrocious. And… what about the Air India flights to SYD and MEL. They see a strong market there – why didn’t Alan Joyce spot that and EXPAND to help the airline, rather than follow his low cost cutting mentality…?????
Andrew McLaughlin
says:Maybe comments more suitable for a different thread?
Jake
says:No Brett, Etihad is based in the UAE, not Saudi Arabia…and who cares whether they’re Australia or not. The arts needs as much support as we can get.