Etihad Airways takes delivery of first A321LR with Viasat IFC
Etihad receives first A321LR aircraft
Etihad Airways has taken delivery of its first A321LR following a ceremony at the Airbus Finkenwerder site, marking a milestone in the airline's fleet expansion strategy.
The aircraft brings Etihad's signature widebody experience to short and medium-haul routes, with premium cabins typically found only on long-haul flights. This is the first of 30 A321LR aircraft scheduled to join Etihad's fleet.
Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: "Today marks an extraordinary moment for Etihad as we welcome an aircraft that changes everything we thought possible on a single-aisle plane. The A321LR enables us to serve more destinations with the same premium experience our guests expect across all cabins, perfectly embodying our commitment to delivering luxury at every altitude."
The A321LR features a three-cabin configuration, including Etihad's first-ever narrowbody First Suites. These suites are private, enclosed spaces with sliding doors, fully-flat beds and bespoke design touches normally reserved for long-haul widebody operations. Each window-facing First Suite features a large 20-inch 4K screen, Bluetooth pairing, wireless charging and additional space for a companion to sit.
The aircraft's 14-seat Business cabin features widebody-style seats in a 1-1 herringbone layout, ensuring every passenger has direct aisle access and window views. Each Business seat includes a 17.3-inch 4K screen, Bluetooth headphone pairing and wireless charging.
In Economy, 144 seats provide an elevated experience for single-aisle travel with space and comfort. Passengers enjoy 13.3-inch 4K touchscreen displays, USB charging and Bluetooth connectivity. These seatback screens bring premium content to narrowbody travel with more than a thousand hours of movies, shows and games.
The cabin also features enlarged overhead bins providing significantly more luggage space than traditional narrowbody aircraft.
Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus Executive Vice President Sales of the Commercial Aircraft Business, said, “The delivery of Etihad’s first Airbus A321LR is a powerful symbol of innovation and partnership, strengthening the long-standing relationship between Airbus and the UAE. This aircraft sets a new standard for comfort in the single-aisle category and paves the way for increased connectivity as Etihad expands its operations from its Abu Dhabi hub.”
Connected above the clouds
A feature of Etihad's A321LR is its high-speed Wi-Fi powered by Viasat's advanced technology, delivering speeds of up to hundreds of Mbps. Passengers can enjoy seamless streaming, gaming and browsing throughout their journey, bringing ground-level connectivity to the skies. This gate-to-gate connectivity, where permitted, helps travelers remain productive and entertained whether flying for business or leisure. Wi-Fi service on Asian routes is being progressively rolled out and will be available from September, the press release said.
