Etihad Airways has just unveiled details regarding its Airbus A321LRs that are expected to enter service in August. The Abu Dhabi based carrier is planning to operate these aircraft in a three-cabin configuration, featuring First, Business, and Economy class.
Etihad is Offering an Elevated Experience Onboard its A321LR Aircraft
Etihad’s A321LR will be equipped with two First Class suites arranged in a 1-1 layout at the front of the aircraft, this will be accompanied by 14 Business Class seats also in a 1-1 layout spread across seven rows. Finally, at the rear of the plane, you’ll find 144 Economy seats arranged in a 3-3 layout.
In First Class, Etihad is promising passengers the full wide-body First Class experience on a narrowbody jet. The First Class suite will have a sliding door, lie-flat bed, 20″ 4K IFE screen with Bluetooth compatibility and wireless charging. There is also additional space should you want a companion to join you for part of your journey.
As you can see in the photo above, First Class on the A321LRs won’t be part of a separate cabin but instead are positioned at the front of the business class cabin. This is similar to what you’ll find on other A321s configured for long-haul flying, like the JetBlue Mint Studio.
There won’t be any dedicated lavatories for First Class passengers and guests should expect more of a Business Class plus experience instead of a true First Class.
Business Class will be outfitted with 14 lie-flat seats arranged in a reverse herringbone pattern. Unfortunately, these seats won’t have doors but do offer a 78″ bed, 17.3″ 4K IFE screen, Bluetooth headphone paring, and wireless charging.
Finally, in Economy, you’ll find 144 thoughtfully designed seats measuring 18.4″ wide, one of the widest Economy seats in the industry. These seats have been designed with up to 5″ of recline a 13.3” 4K IFE screen, and USB charging.
All aircraft will be equipped with Viasat Wi-Fi which is available gate-to-gate, where allowed by law, and passengers will have access to streaming, social media, surfing and gaming onboard, in addition to live television.
Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, had this to say about the Airbus A321LR:
“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.”
First Class Ground Experience Gets an Upgrade
With the introduction of the A321LR Etihad is preparing to bring First Class to more routes. As part of this, the airline is expanding its First Class service starting the moment you book your flight. The new Etihad Concierge will offer personalized service with 24/7 tailored travel planning.
In the UAE and all First Class destinations, passengers will enjoy a private chauffeur service to and from the airport, providing a seamless, door-to-door experience. First Class guests will also be personally escorted through a dedicated Check In to the Etihad First Lounge and then for boarding. On arrival, guests will be accompanied from the aircraft door to their chauffeur, with porter services taking care of the luggage.
At the carrier’s home airport in Abu Dhabi, First Class passengers will also soon benefit from complimentary Home Check-In and Land & Leave services, offering a baggage-free airport experience. At Zayed International Airport (AUH), First Class passengers will be chauffeured to the aircraft door in a private limousine if the flight does not board directly from the terminal.
Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves, said this about the upgraded First Class experience:
“First isn’t just a seat – it’s an experience that starts the moment you choose to fly with us. We’re bringing First to more destinations and elevating it at every touchpoint, combining the elegance of champagne and caviar with the convenience of modern luxury.”
Etihad Announces A321LR Routes
Etihad plans to place the Airbus A321LR into revenue service beginning August 1, 2025. This will be the first of ten aircraft the carrier plans to take delivery of this year. The aircraft are expected to fly from Etihad’s Abu Dhabi hub to Algiers, Athens, Bangkok, Chennai, Chiang Mai, Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, Kolkata, Krabi, Medan, Milan, Paris, Phnom Penh, Phuket, Riyadh, Tunis, and Zurich.
While I haven’t flown in First Class on Etihad, I have had the chance to experience Business Class on the carrier’s 787-9 and 787-10 aircraft. Both of those experiences were enjoyable and, while a narrowbody will never compete with a widebody in terms of comfort, these new seats appear to be very nice, especially in First and Business Class.
Summary
Etihad Airways has unveiled the interiors it plans to utilize on its Airbus A321LR aircraft. Each A321LR will be outfitted in a three-cabin layout featuring First Class, Business Class, and Economy. The Abu Dhabi based carrier also plans to upgrade the ground experience for First Class passengers across it’s network in an effort to make travel seamless for its top passengers.
(Images courtesy Etihad Airways)
