Eithad Airways has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321LR aircraft, making it the latest operator of the type.
The aircraft is the first of 30 to join the Etihad medium-long range fleet. It was handed over at the Airbus Finkenwerder site in Hamburg. This delivery marks a transformational milestone in the airline’s fleet expansion strategy, bringing Etihad’s widebody experience to short and medium-haul routes, with premium cabins typically found only on long-haul flights.
The A321LR features a three-cabin configuration, including Etihad’s first-ever narrowbody First Suites – private, enclosed spaces with sliding doors, fully-flat beds, and bespoke design touches normally reserved for long-haul widebody operations. Each window-facing First Suite features a large 20-inch 4K screen, Bluetooth pairing, wireless charging, and additional space for a companion to sit.
The aircraft’s 14-seat Business cabin features widebody-style seats in a 1-1 herringbone layout, ensuring every passenger has direct aisle access and window views. Each Business seat includes a 17.3-inch 4K screen, Bluetooth headphone pairing and wireless charging.
In Economy, 144 seats are installed, offering space and comfort and providing an elevated experience for single-aisle travel. Passengers enjoy 13.3-inch 4K touchscreen displays, USB charging, and Bluetooth connectivity.
In addition, the cabin features enlarged overhead bins (Airspace XL Spacebisn) providing significantly more luggage space than traditional narrowbody aircraft.
In terms of connectivity, they will feature the Viasat Ka-based connectivity solution, with a gate-to-gate experience. Wi-Fi service on Asian routes is being progressively rolled out and will be available from September 2025, whilst the rest of the network should be up and running
In Quotes
Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said:
“Today marks an extraordinary moment for Etihad as we welcome an aircraft that changes everything we thought possible on a single-aisle plane. The A321LR enables us to serve more destinations with the same premium experience our guests expect across all cabins, perfectly embodying our commitment to delivering luxury at every altitude.”
Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus Executive Vice President Sales of the Commercial Aircraft Business, commented:
“The delivery of Etihad’s first Airbus A321LR is a powerful symbol of innovation and partnership, strengthening the long-standing relationship between Airbus and the UAE. This aircraft sets a new standard for comfort in the single-aisle category and paves the way for increased connectivity as Etihad expands its operations from its Abu Dhabi hub.”
First Steps
Eithad has been growing at a pace this year, with 27 new routes announced. But even this A321LR will have to fly somewhere on that network.
The first confirmed route for Etihad’s A321LR will be between Abu Dhabi and Phuket.
Once further aircraft join the fleet, the airline has an aggressive destination list including Algiers, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Copenhagen, Düsseldorf, Kolkata, Krabi, Krakow, Medan, Milan, Paris, Phnom Penh, Phuket, Tunis and Zurich.
In total, Etihad Airways will have a further 9 A321LRs join the fleet in 2025, bringing it to a squadron of 10 aircraft.
It’ll be interesting to see where they target the use of these premium narrowbody aircraft next.
Welcome to Economy Class and Beyond. Your no-nonsense guide to network news, honest reviews, in-depth coverage, unique research, as well as the humour and madness I only know how to deliver.
Our Social Media pool has expanded. You can find us across most networks as @economybeyond on BlueSky, Threads, Mastodon and Instagram!
Also, remember that we are part of the BoardingArea community, bringing you the latest frequent flyer news from around the world.
Leave a Reply