There is no doubting the quality of Etihad Airways’ new product, designed for its soon-to-arrive A380 and 787 Dreamliner and which, over four years, will be retrofitted on the rest of its fleet.

Unveiled by Etihad's Melburnian chief executive James Hogan, and then showcased to international media at the carrier’s impressive Innovation Centre in Abu Dhabi, the product has been a long time in the planning.

Five years in fact.

The painstaking research and design project, which began in a rat-infested warehouse a stone’s throw from Heathrow in 2008, culminated last Sunday at the Fairmont Bab al Bahr, a plush hotel which sits opposite the majestic Grand Mosque in the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

The contrast in locations could have hardly have been greater.

Predictably, and perhaps correctly (although such things are always a matter of opinion), there was much talk of “setting new standards” in air travel, of “raising the bar” and exceeding the expectations of an increasingly demanding, and sophisticated traveller.

Also predictably, almost the entire focus was on premium cabins, the seats (and beds) which the vast bulk of the travelling public never gets to experience.

That’s not to say economy was neglected. Developments have been made to the back of the aircraft, or lower deck in the case of the A380 where 417 economy seats are located.

But there was no escaping that the wow factor was solely reserved for business, first and “super VIP” passengers, as Hogan branded those who are likely to occupy The Residence, Etihad’s opulent three-room cabin on the A380.

Perhaps it is wishful thinking, correction, it is wishful thinking, but I long for the day when something truly radical is designed for the less affluent air traveller. It’s not meant as a criticism of Etihad, for improvements were forthcoming in economy in the form of a fixed headrest, fleece blankets and pillows and stylish d√©cor.

Seat back entertainment is also now a norm in economy and service levels on some carriers – though not all – is better than it has ever been.

Yet economy remains what it has always been. Row after row of tightly packed seats which make for an uncomfortable long haul trip for the majority of passengers.

One of the design team who spoke to media on a tour of the newly-opened Innovation Centre explained that while changes appeared to be small, they meant a great deal to the economy traveller, such as the fixed headrest. There was clearly no intention to be so, and you knew what they meant, but I couldn’t help feel it was a mildly patronising approach to economy passengers. Give a starving man a slice of bread and he’ll think it’s a feast.

Of course, where there are space constraints, as there are in economy, design options are limited and manufacturers’ are resistant to major changes to existing configurations.

Staggered seating was among the ideas mooted during the design process, which would remove the necessity to sit directly next to someone. That suggestion stemmed from passengers not wanting to have a sleeping neighbour “drooling over them”, or simply invading their space. The staggered seating plan failed to get off the ground.

As for ripping out a few rows of seats to provide more legroom throughout the cabin, well, the economics just don’t stack up.

Manufacturers initially resisted some of Etihad’s ideas for the premium cabins. In particular, the curved design of the First Suite aisles on the 787 was an issue. So a radical change in economy, the design of which has barely altered down the years, was always going to be tough. I suspect that will remain the case for years to come.

The premium cabins are, it must be said, outstanding in their levels of design and comfort. Of course there is a price to match. But leaving that aside, airlines are pushing the design limits, or as Etihad described it, “disrupting the status quo” as it attempted to recreate the experience and exclusivity of a boutique five star hotel.

It’s fair to say that Hogan and his Etihad Design Consortium achieved that goal.

The ability for couples to affectively sleep together in six of the A380 First Apartments was a particularly interesting development, with the 64-inch sliding doors providing ample privacy. Each apartment also features a reclining lounge chair. The chilled mini bars in first class on both the A380 and 787 was also a nice touch, as was the vanity unit.

In business class across both aircraft types, a small table, or “side furniture surface” as it was described has been added which enables travellers to rest their laptop, and continue working, while they dine. Again, it’s a top notch product.

As for The Residence, the flagship three-room private cabin for “Super VIPs”, it will cost $20,000 – one-way – between Abu Dhabi and London, a flight time of less than eight hours. It is luxurious and completely unnecessary. But since when has that mattered for those with the ability to pay for such a product?