Etihad Airways Redefines Luxury Aloft with First Airbus A321LR Flight to Phuket
- Joe Breitfeller

- Aug 3, 2025
- 2 min read
Etihad Airways has launched their first commercial flight with their brand-new Airbus A321LR, delivering a widebody experience on a single aisle aircraft. The carrier’s inaugural A321LR flight to Phuket was sold out in First, Business and Economy.

On Friday (August 1, 2025), Etihad Airways announced the launch of the first flight with their brand-new Airbus A321LR from Abu Dhabi to Phuket, Thailand. Flight EY414 departed Zayed International Airport for Phuket on Friday, marking the introduction of an aircraft designed to deliver Etihad’s premium cabin standards on short and medium-haul routes. This inaugural flight introduced guests to Etihad’s latest cabin innovations, designed to deliver the same elevated service and attention to detail that defines the airline’s award-winning widebody experience. Last week Etihad took delivery of their first of 30 A321LRs on order.
In Friday’s announcement. Etihad Airways’ Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, Arik De, said,
“The A321LR symbolises our ambition to deliver extraordinary experiences on every route we serve. It allows us to bring the sophistication of our widebody cabins, including our renowned First experience, to more destinations, and to more travellers, than ever before.”
Etihad’s new A321LR introduces a new standard for single-aisle aircraft travel across all cabins. The aircraft features two fully-enclosed First Class Suites with sliding doors, fully lie-flat beds, with an elegant design with space for the guest to dine or relax, either in the privacy of their suite alone, or with companion. The suite also features a 4K 20-inch IFE screen, wireless charging and Bluetooth connectivity.
The aircraft also features 14 Business Class seats in a spacious 1-1 configuration offering direct aisle access and window views for every guest, as well as 4K 17.3-inch IFE screens, wireless charging and Bluetooth connectivity.
Economy Class is configured with 144 ergonomically designed seats offering generous legroom. Each seat is equipped with 13.3-inch 4K touchscreens, USB charging and Bluetooth headphone pairing. The carrier’s inflight entertainment (IFE) offering includes a library of premium films, series and games. All customers will enjoy high-speed Wi-Fi, being rolled out progressively on Asian routes, as well as larger overhead bins.
Source: Etihad Airways


