The UAE's national carrier, Etihad Airways, took delivery of its very first Airbus A321LR (Long Range) on 24 July at a ceremony at the Airbus site in Hamburg. Beyond the celebration of this new aircraft, the A321LR marks a strategic turning point for the Abu Dhabi carrier.
A231LR: ideal capacity with a long-haul widebody product
That's right, Etihad Airways incorporates an aircraft model that enables it to reformulate its expansion strategy. Some thirty aircraft are expected to take part. Of which nine other A321LR delivered by 2025. They will enable Etihad to offer a premium long-haul product to countless secondary destinations. Destinations where a larger aircraft would not be economically viable.
" Today is an extraordinary moment for Etihad, as we welcome an aircraft that changes everything we thought possible for a single-aisle aircraft. The A321LR enables us to serve more destinations while guaranteeing the same high level of service expected by our passengers "said Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways.
The A321LR introduces premium cabins hitherto reserved for wide-bodied aircraft.. The configuration of the aircraft is similar to that of an Airbus A350.
The Airbus A321LR offers three classes of service. Including the very first "Etihad's single-aisle "First Suite private suites with sliding doors, fully flat beds, 20-inch 4K screens, wireless charging, Bluetooth and even a seat for a travelling companion.
Business class offers 14 seats in a 1-1 herringbone configuration, i.e. diagonally. This configuration gives each passenger direct aisle access and a window view. Each seat has a 44cm 4K screen, Bluetooth connectivity and a wireless charger.
In Economy class, 144 ergonomic seats offer comfort and spacewith 34 cm 4K touch screens, USB ports, Bluetooth and a wide selection of content. All this in a cabin with enlarged luggage compartments. Wi-Fi will be available throughout the aircraft from September 2025.
For Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Executive Vice President Sales, Airbus, " this aircraft sets a new standard for comfort in the single-aisle category ".
Rapid network expansion
The A321LR will support the expansion of Etihad's network, which has announced or launched 27 new routes in the space of a year.. The aircraft will enter commercial service on 1 August 2025, initially between Abu Dhabi and Phuket.
It will then be introduced on many lines. At the same time new destinations such as Algiers, Calcutta, Chiang Mai, Krakow, Krabi, Medan and Phnom Penh. But also on routes already served such as Bangkok, Copenhagen, Düsseldorf and Milan, ParisTunis or Zurich.
Other links are currently being plannedwhich are part of the company's Journey 2030 strategic plan. This plan aims to carry 38 million passengers a year by the end of the decade.. And above all, to strengthen the role of global hub that theAbu Dhabi airport.
