Airbus has recognised United Arab Emirates flag carrier Etihad Airways with a prestigious award for delivering the best-ever operational reliability performance in the first year of A380 operations.

The Etihad Airways A380 fleet recorded an impressive 99.8 per cent operational reliability rate between January and December 2015 – marking the highest level recorded by an airline in its first year flying Airbus’ 21st century flagship jetliner.

“Our engineering teams as well as our Airbus colleagues are to be congratulated for this success,” said Etihad Airways Senior Vice President, Technical, Jeff Wilkinson. “As Etihad Airways is flying the A380 with one of the highest rates of daily utilisation, with a typical turnaround time of only two hours, this achievement is all the more remarkable.”

“This unmatched operational performance in a first year of operating an A380 was made possible due to exceptional team work, constant thrive for improvement and forward-thinking mindset,” added Didier Lux, Airbus’ SVP Head of Customer Services. “We have clearly set a precedent in A380 operational excellence.”

The airline’s 99.8 operational reliability rate in 2015 means only 0.2 per cent of its A380 flights were delayed, with no cancellations, during the 12-month period. There currently are six A380s in the Etihad Airways fleet, with four more scheduled for delivery.

Airbus press release