Photo: Etihad Airways Etihad Airways has received its first Airbus A321LR as part of its strategic expansion plan to add 30 of these aircraft to its fleet.
The UAE aviation giant marked the arrival of its first Airbus A321LR with a ceremony at Airbus's production site in Hamburg, Germany, highlighting a new phase in the fleet expansion for the Abu Dhabi-based airline.
This is the first of 30 aircraft slated to join the fleet by the end of the decade.
Etihad's CEO, Antonoaldo Neves, stated: "This is an extraordinary moment. This aircraft changes our perception of what is possible in a single-aisle plane. We can now fly to more destinations without compromising the premium experience that defines us in every class."
Etihad A321LR Aircraft (Photo: Etihad)Private Suites, Business Experience, and New Economy Design
As previously reported by Passport News during the Arab Travel Market 2025 held in April, Etihad announced that the new aircraft offers a 'Prestige' class featuring two private suites, business class with flatbeds, and especially spacious economy seats, totaling three service classes:
- First Class includes fully enclosed suites with sliding doors, flatbeds, a 20-inch 4K screen, wireless charging, Bluetooth, and additional seating space for guests.
- Business Class features 14 seats in a Herringbone 1-1 layout, with direct aisle and window access, a personal 17.3-inch 4K screen, wireless charging, and Bluetooth.
- Economy Class offers 144 spacious seats with a 13.3-inch touch screen, USB charging, Bluetooth, and a rich content selection with thousands of entertainment hours.
- Additionally, the aircraft features enlarged overhead bins, a practical solution for modern travelers' needs.
Ultra-Fast Wi-Fi - Even on Asia Routes
The aircraft is equipped with next-generation Wi-Fi technology by Viasat, providing browsing speeds of hundreds of Mbps for streaming video, gaming, remote work, or casual surfing from takeoff to landing.
The service will launch on Asia routes beginning September 2025.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Vice President Sales at Airbus, remarked: "The delivery of this aircraft symbolizes partnership and innovation. It redefines comfort levels in narrow-body aircraft and will support Etihad's expansion from Abu Dhabi Airport."
New Destinations from August
Etihad will launch A321LR operations on August 1, 2025, with the inaugural commercial flight on the Abu Dhabi - Phuket route.
The aircraft will then be deployed to additional destinations including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Copenhagen, Düsseldorf, Kolkata, Krabi, Krakow, Medan, Milan, Paris, Phnom Penh, Tunis, Zurich, and more.
Target: 38 Million Passengers Annually
The new aircraft aligns with Etihad's Journey 2030 vision, aiming to position Abu Dhabi as a global aviation hub, serving 38 million passengers annually by 2030. Nine more aircraft of this model will be delivered throughout 2025.
In Israel, Etihad is represented by the Maman Group.