Etihad Airways plans to take delivery of some brand new Airbus A321LRs next year, featuring flat bed seats in business class. We now have more of a sense of what we can expect from these planes, as tickets have been put on sale for flights on the new jet… well, at least tentatively.
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Etihad wants to fly 30-40 Airbus A321LRs
Several months ago, aeroTELEGRAPH had an interview with Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves, where he shared the company’s fleet strategy over the coming years.
For some background, Etihad’s fleet strategy has completely changed over time. A decade ago, Etihad wanted to become the size of Emirates, and ordered basically every type of plane on planet earth. After losing many billions of dollars, the airline changed course, and tried to shrink into profitability. Now that this has been accomplished, the airline is instead trying to grow, but in a more sustainable way.
My point is simply to say that it can be hard to keep track of Etihad’s fleet plans. For example, according to Boeing, Etihad still has 25 Boeing 777Xs on order, while according to Etihad’s CEO, these contracts have been restructured, and that’s no longer the case.
Similarly, in 2013, Etihad placed an order for 26 Airbus A321neos, but up until now, the airline hasn’t taken delivery of any of these factory fresh jets, as the order has been deferred. Instead, Etihad has just taken delivery of six used A321neos, which briefly flew for Bamboo Airways.
But we recently learned about Etihad’s fleet plans for the A321neo family of aircraft, beyond the ones being acquired secondhand. According to Etihad’s CEO:
- Etihad has ordered A321LRs directly from Airbus, which is the longer range version of the A321neo (though not as long range as the A321XLR)
- Etihad wants to eventually fly 30-40 Airbus A321LRs, and the first aircraft will start to join Etihad’s fleet in 2025
- Etihad’s strategic intent with Airbus A321LRs is to fly them in markets that are thinner, and where more frequencies are required; Etihad wants to focus on operating at least daily service between city pairs, so the airline couldn’t fly a 777 daily between Abu Dhabi and Nice, but might be able to fly an A321LR
For context, Etihad currently has a narrow body fleet consisting of 29 Airbus A320-family aircraft, including 14 A320s, nine A321s and six A321neos (former Bamboo Airways jets).
Etihad’s A321LRs will have flat beds in business class
What should passengers expect onboard Etihad’s factory fresh Airbus A321LRs? Well, Etihad plans to install flat beds on all of these newly delivered jets. That’s exciting, since currently Etihad doesn’t have flat beds on any narrow body aircraft.
As flagged by AeroRoutes, the first A321LR route has now been put on sale. While I imagine this could change, currently Etihad has listed the A321LR as operating the route between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Phuket (HKT) as of August 1, 2025.
Based on the seat map, Etihad’s A321LRs will have a total of 160 seats, comprised of:
- Two fully flat first class seats, in a 1-1 configuration
- 14 fully flat business class seats, in a 1-1 configuration
- 144 economy class seats, in a 3-3 configuration
While exact details of the product haven’t yet been announced, I’d be willing to bet good money on the product that Etihad will introduce, given the 1-1 configuration. JetBlue’s Airbus A321neos with Mint cabins (not to be confused with the Airbus A321LRs) have exactly the same configuration. They have 16 business class seats (two of which are special), plus 144 economy seats.
Much like on JetBlue, I imagine that Etihad will select the Thompson Aero VantageSOLO product in business class, which is a herringbone seat with a door, and is proving popular for premium narrow body aircraft. Below you can see what the JetBlue Mint Suite looks like (the standard business class seat).
Below you can see what the JetBlue Mint Studio looks like (the special business class seat in the first row).
Now, what I find most interesting here is that Etihad seems to have plans to market the first row of seats as first class, rather than as a premium business class. That’s certainly surprising, and not what I would have expected. I’m curious if that actually ends up being the case, or if the airline has a change of heart.
Regardless, Etihad getting narrow body jets with flat beds is a fantastic development, if you ask me. Currently, Etihad’s narrow body aircraft are operated almost exclusively on shorter flights, and really have quite an uncompetitive product in both cabins. On some routes, Etihad operates both narrow body and wide body aircraft, and the difference is night and day. So I’m happy to see the airline will be offering more of a long haul experience on these jets.
Bottom line
Etihad will be nicely elevating its narrow body passenger experience as of 2025, when Airbus A321LRs join the carrier’s fleet. Etihad plans to install 160 seats on these planes, including two first class seats, 14 business class seats, and 144 economy seats.
My money is on Etihad having exactly the same configuration as JetBlue’s A321neos, but I could be off. Perhaps the most surprising development is that Etihad seems to plan on marketing the first row of seats as first class, rather than business class.
What do you make of Etihad’s Airbus A321LR plans?
The intent of first class on this plane is probably to streamline connectivity. Buying first JFK-AUH I’d prefer something slightly more premium on the connection than plain old business (lol). Marketing it as first increases the chances the inventory stays available for people connecting onto the flight with first class tickets rather than it going to the first person willing to pay a slight premium with a J ticket.
Another good example for A321neo three, or mayve 4, classes is ITA. As you may know, the first row is extremely spacious and definitely more spacious than first class seat of last decade. Besides, EY offers first class service on ground and in flight, too. So, that's quite logical, IMO, that they charge this product with this price tag.
I think this is a game changer and bold move by Etihad. Unlike airlines like Jetblue and Condor, they already have a First class infrastructure on the ground and a product set. By doing this, they can offer connecting itineraries as well. It will be interesting to see how they price this. Also, it will be interesting to see if other airlines follow the lead. If they do, Etihad's view of the world will further...
I think this is a game changer and bold move by Etihad. Unlike airlines like Jetblue and Condor, they already have a First class infrastructure on the ground and a product set. By doing this, they can offer connecting itineraries as well. It will be interesting to see how they price this. Also, it will be interesting to see if other airlines follow the lead. If they do, Etihad's view of the world will further be strenghtened.
What I like about this is they are going about on their own path versus trying to be Qatar and Emirates which got them into trouble before. Bold, and perhaps what is needed. Time will tell.
Selling Business+ as First is not what I'd expect from Etihad. Give us true first class seats.
I'm actually interested what you think about the concept of a international first class seat in a narrowbody. Assuming they install the same (or similar) product as JetBlue's Mint Studio, could they make the difference large enough to make it a real first? What would they need to do? If they would give it nicer finishes, perhaps a larger screen, would that be a first hard product? And then, do you think that the soft product would be influenced by the narrowbody?
Isn’ American Airlines also planning to configure their A321XLRs so that there is a 1-1 business class cabin with a fancier first row?
I watched an AA video. The answer is no on the 321XLR. The best seats are identical 1-1 lie-flat business. The 787-9 will have a special "suite" of sorts in the middle section of the first row of J.
One thing about Etihad's A321neos currently flying currently is that the seat configurations are extremely inconsistent - the airline has six A21Ns, but they come with three different configurations, two with C16Y182, two with C8Y215, and only one with C8Y200.
Hopefully Etihad unifies A21N configurations at some point. It would be nice if A21Ns are getting the same interior as the new A321LRs, but the chances are probably slim...
Correction, there're actually three C16Y182-configured A21Ns in Etihad fleet.
Can't find the link, but I have seen an interview where the CCO said all configurations would be standardized, including on the widebodies. The six 321 Neos are apparently ex Bamboo Airways aircraft and they needed to seize the opportunity quickly so kept it in the original configuration.
If true, what an awful first class seat choice. I guess it maximizes revenue over a true first class seat, but it is absolutely not the first class standard one should expect, but instead rather something an American carrier would try to pull off. The diagram is weird in that it shows the first row in front of the exit doors, which would be nearly impossible on a 321 without major modifications.
I stand corrected. The image overlapped oddly when the article loaded; I see it is behind the exit door.
It gets even more bizarre when you think about it - will they load a dedicated selection of first class wines just for two seats? Will there be a dedicated FA?
Going from not even offering a flatbed on budget routes to SE Asia to offering what will be marketed as longhaul first class sounds like Etihad - on the majority of EK's most premium longhaul routes to US/Australia/Europe there is no First but you'll be able to fly First to Phuket and Colombo...
I mean EY, not EK, clearly!
Air France will have only 3 first class seats in the new configuration so I don't think it's particularly unusual. Can also make for an extremely intimate cabin.
The extremely unusual part of it is that it's going to be on a narrow body plane which usually doesn't allow a lot of space that first class is expected to have nowdays.