Etihad Introduces Airbus A321LR To Extend Luxurious Experience

Etihad Airways is launching its first Airbus A321LR aircraft this August, marking a significant milestone in its Journey 2030 growth strategy. Designed for short and medium-haul routes, the aircraft offers a wide-body level of comfort and luxury across all cabins, including the new First Suite, lie-flat Business seats, and enhanced Economy class.

Key features include an all-new, private First Suite with sliding door, large 4K entertainment screen, and bespoke design, 14 wide, fully-flat Business seats with direct aisle access and advanced in-flight connectivity and 144 spacious Economy seats with ergonomic design, high-speed streaming Wi-Fi, and personalised entertainment. 

Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, commented on the launch of the new aircraft, "The A321LR is an amazing aircraft which proves our commitment to luxury, customer experience, and connectivity. With our new First Suites, 14 lie-flat Business seats with direct-aisle access, and upgraded Economy, we've taken the luxury experience which we are famed for on our widebody fleet and adapted it to offer guests the same experience in a single-aisle aircraft – all while keeping them seamlessly connected with superfast, streaming Wi-Fi throughout the journey."

“More broadly, the A321LR marks a transformational moment for Etihad as we accelerate toward our Journey 2030 vision: doubling our fleet size, tripling our passenger numbers, and opening 16 new destinations in 2025 alone,” he added further. 

The aircraft features Viasat’s high-speed satellite Wi-Fi capable of speeds up to one Gbps, enabling streaming, browsing, and gaming across the cabin. The deployment of the A321LR aligns with Etihad’s broader regional expansion and upgrade of its premium services, including personalised guest support, chauffeur services and dedicated lounges for First class passengers.

The fleet expansion aims to serve routes including destinations across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, supporting both tourism development and Abu Dhabi’s economic growth.