Etihad to Launch A321LR Flights in August 2025
Etihad Airways will begin operating its new Airbus A321-200NX(LR) aircraft on August 1, 2025, starting with a daily return service between Abu Dhabi and Phuket. The rollout will continue across select cities in Southeast Asia, North Africa, and Europe as part of the airline’s fleet expansion strategy.
Etihad has 20 A321LRs on order and expects to receive 10 of them by the end of 2025. CEO Antonoaldo Neves described the aircraft as “amazing” and a key part of the airline’s Journey 2030 plan, which aims to double the fleet and triple passenger numbers. The new aircraft will feature a rare three-class configuration with 160 total seats—144 in economy, 14 in business, and two in first class.
Etihad plans to deploy the A321LRs on thinner short- and medium-haul routes where widebodies are not commercially viable. Following the initial Phuket launch, the A321LR will begin serving Düsseldorf and Copenhagen on October 1; Phnom Penh on October 3; Krabi on October 9; Milan and Tunis on November 1; Chiang Mai and Hanoi on November 3; and Algiers on November 7.
In addition to the A321LRs, Etihad has 77 more aircraft on order. These include 14 A350-1000s, 10 A350 freighters, eight Boeing 777-8s, 17 Boeing 777-9s, eight Boeing 787-9s, and 20 Boeing 787-10s. The airline expects to take delivery of an average of 20 aircraft per year over the next five years as it expands its global footprint and modernizes its fleet.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com