Etihad Airways receives first A321LR, plans 30-jet expansion in coming years

Etihad Airways has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321LR, representing a significant step in the airline’s fleet expansion strategy. 

Etihad announced this news at a ceremony held at the Airbus Finkenwerder facility on July 24, 2025. According to the airline, this is the first of 30 A321LR aircraft scheduled to be added to its fleet. 

“We welcome an aircraft that changes everything we thought possible on a single-aisle plane,” said Etihad Airways CEO, Antonoaldo Neves. “The A321LR enables us to serve more destinations with the same premium experience our guests expect across all cabins.” 

The aircraft provides Etihad’s widebody experience for short and medium-haul routes, featuring premium cabins typically found only on long-haul flights. In addition, the cabin has larger overhead bins that offer much more luggage space compared to traditional narrowbody aircraft. 

Etihad has revealed the aircraft features its first narrowbody First Suites – private cabins with sliding doors and fully-flat beds. Each suite by the window comes with a 20-inch 4K screen, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless charging, and additional space where a companion can sit. 

The A321LR’s Business cabin has 14 seats that provide widebody-style comfort with a 1-1 herringbone layout, allowing each passenger direct access to the aisle and a window view. These seats are equipped with 17.3-inch 4K screens, Bluetooth pairing, and wireless charging. 

The Economy cabin will feature 144 seats, each with a 13.3-inch 4K touchscreen, USB charging, plus Bluetooth connectivity. 

Moreover, according to the airline, a significant aspect of Etihad’s A321LR is its Wi-Fi, supplied by Viasat. The airline said that Wi-Fi service on Asian routes is being rolled out progressively and will be available from September 2025. 

“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,” said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus Executive Vice President Sales of the Commercial Aircraft Business. 

The aircraft is set to begin commercial operations on August 1, 2025, initially flying between Abu Dhabi and Phuket, then subsequently serving locations such as Algiers, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Copenhagen, Düsseldorf, Kolkata, Krabi, Krakow, Medan, Milan, Paris, Phnom Penh, Phuket, Tunis and Zurich. 

An additional nine A321LR aircraft are due to be delivered throughout 2025, with the carrier aiming to carry 38 million passengers annually by 2030. The post Etihad Airways receives first A321LR, plans 30-jet expansion in coming years appeared first on AeroTime.

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