Etihad Plans Unique High Density Airbus A321LR... With First Class! - Etihad

Etihad Plans Unique High Density Airbus A321LR... With First Class!

Ben Schlappig — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 23:53:13 +0000

Etihad Airways seemingly has plans to introduce a higher density layout for one of its newest jets, and I can’t help but find this to be a quirky layout…

Continue reading: Etihad Plans Unique High Density Airbus A321LR… With First Class!

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ImmortalSynn — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 21:01:17 +0000

What are you talking about, dude? The defining characteristic of "true First Class" is the SOFT PRODUCT, which (as clearly mentioned in the article) these aircraft will offer. Hard product doesn't mean squat. By your "logic," BA offers "true first" to its secondary US destinations like Nashville and New Orleans, since the aircraft it usually flies there have separate F seats and separate F bulkheads, despite the fact that they only offer Club soft service.

Spyder — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:40:00 +0000

Has the author ever been to the USA? This is only strange in your region. This is common industry economics. This setup is common on US domestic flights (except JetBlue). US carriers have a completely different look on international flights - depending on where you fly. Domestically, first and business seats were not in booths until JetBlue changed the practice. As for the seats facing the window, it'll be difficult to get an incapacitated person out (facing away from the window has better ingress/egress). Besides, having the window over your shoulder makes it easier to read the menu.

John — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 19:36:37 +0000

>We’ve heard Etihad’s current management team suggest that they’d eventually like to have first class on all aircraft, though I haven’t heard any concrete plans I'd make a guess that in future refurbishment of their 787/A350 aircraft, they will just create extra space by removing storage boxes from the bulkhead seats and make "First class" similar to A321LR so basically Business Suite with First class soft product.

Barbarella — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:28:50 +0000

At 38" and 2ab, removing 8 J gives space for only 30 Y seats at 6ab and 30". The missing 12 seats likely come from the elimination of the pair of middle bathrooms and reduction of rear galley, illustrating the shorter haul scope. At 1:10 toilet/pax the front bathroom can serve the totality of the premium cabins. With 2 additional "Airspace" rear galley bathrooms Y would be at 1:62. Etihad sure wants to compete vs Indigo in Y.

Kenny — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:05:54 +0000

It's not a true First Class as there aren't even bulkheads separating the Business Class cabin from First and both cabins share the lavatory... it is simply Etihad making a huge deal about a product that is simply Business Plus

1990 — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 14:03:52 +0000

Especially with rising fuel prices, the industry will need more-efficient narrowbodies with long-range and premium cabins (including lie-flat), so I say, this is welcome. That said, I'm not sure I'd route via AUH for a while...

Tim Dunn — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:33:44 +0000

these will have just token premium cabins but predominantly serve the mass market that flies between the Middle East and S. Asia. The A321NEO is great for that market; almost 200 seats is a good chunk of what a widebody can carry w/ a product that is not bad for 3-4 hour flights. The real issue is how long it takes for the Middle East airlines to stabilize from the present war.

PJOC — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:35:28 +0000

Agree 100%….and their seats are super narrow too. How do airlines keep making these dumb mistakes?

AeroB13a — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:11:42 +0000

The lines between F, J and the proletariat classes are being blurred beyond comprehension.