Etihad Brings Widebody Luxury to A321LR Fleet
Etihad Airways will introduce its first single-aisle Airbus A321LR with a full suite of widebody-style cabins on August 1, 2025, marking a major enhancement of comfort and service on short and medium-haul routes. The UAE carrier plans to add ten of the long-range narrowbodies this year, each featuring two private First suites with sliding doors, a 20-inch 4K entertainment screen and companion seating. The fully enclosed suites include lie-flat beds, elevated dining tables and wireless charging, mirroring the exclusive ambience of Etihad’s flagship widebody cabins.
Beyond First, the new Business cabin on the A321LR will showcase 14 forward-facing, herringbone-configured seats that convert into 78-inch beds. Every Business class passenger will enjoy direct aisle access, a personal 17.3-inch 4K screen with Bluetooth headphone pairing, USB-C charging ports and discreet storage compartments. By transferring the premium elements of its Boeing 787 and Airbus A380 offerings onto a narrowbody platform, Etihad aims to deliver unparalleled luxury on flights lasting up to seven hours, without sacrificing convenience or space.
Etihad has also upgraded its Economy class on the A321LR, installing 144 ergonomically enhanced seats with five inches of recline and an industry-leading 18.4-inch width. This wider footprint allows ample personal space for each passenger, complemented by high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi that supports streaming throughout the cabin. The airline says the new Economy seats combine comfort with efficiency, ensuring that holidaymakers and business travellers alike can enjoy Etihad’s award-winning service across its network.
With the A321LR’s extended range, Etihad will operate these aircraft on 17 city pairs from Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport. Destinations include key regional hubs such as Athens, Bangkok, Chennai, Copenhagen and Paris, as well as leisure gateways like Krabi, Phuket and Tunis. New markets such as Algiers, Medan and Phnom Penh will also benefit from direct, non-stop connections, broadening Etihad’s footprint across Europe, Asia and North Africa without requiring widebody deployments.
“The A321LR is an amazing aircraft which proves our commitment to luxury, customer experience, and connectivity,” said Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad’s Chief Executive Officer. He added that the introduction of First Suites and lie-flat Business seats on a single-aisle type represents a “transformational moment” in the airline’s growth strategy. Neves noted that the A321LR rollout aligns with Etihad’s 2030 vision to double its fleet, triple passenger volumes and launch 16 new destinations by the end of next year.
Installation of the premium cabins on the A321LRs is being handled by Etihad’s in-house engineering teams, who have adapted the aircraft’s fuselage to accommodate wider seats and enclosed suites without compromising cargo capacity. Drawing on feedback from frequent flyers, Etihad has tailored the cabin ambience with mood lighting, custom textiles and branded amenity kits, ensuring the narrowbody delivers the same emotional and sensory experience that defines its widebody service.
As part of its broader network expansion, Etihad will leverage the A321LR’s flexibility to increase frequencies on high-demand routes while opening new direct links from Abu Dhabi. Passengers in Central and South Asia, the Middle East and Europe will gain access to Etihad’s partnerships and codeshares, providing seamless onward connections to more than 80 global destinations. With the A321LR upgrade, Etihad is poised to redefine expectations of what a single-aisle aircraft can offer, blending efficiency with uncompromised luxury.
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