Etihad Airways to Add First-Class and Lie-Flat Business Seats to A321neo(LR)

Etihad Airways is set to make a significant upgrade to its narrowbody fleet with the introduction of first-class and lie-flat business class seats on its incoming A321-200NX(LR) aircraft. Scheduled to debut on the Phuket route in August 2025, this will mark the first time the airline offers such premium amenities on its narrowbody jets.

According to Aeroroutes, Etihad will utilize one of the three daily Phuket flights operated by the new A321neo(LR), while the remaining flights will be serviced by Boeing 787-10s. The A321neo(LR) will be configured to accommodate up to 160 passengers, featuring two first-class seats, fourteen lie-flat business class seats arranged in a 1-1 configuration, and 144 economy class seats.

An Etihad spokesperson highlighted the airline’s excitement for the new aircraft, noting that further details about the onboard offerings and network enhancements will be revealed in the coming months.

Etihad has a total of twenty A321-200NX(LR) aircraft on order from Airbus, a deal originally placed in 2013. These aircraft will serve medium- and long-haul routes where daily widebody service is not feasible.

Currently, Etihad’s fleet is predominantly composed of widebodies, with fourteen A320-200s, nine A321-200s, and a mix of other narrowbody variants.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com