Etihad’s New A321LR: Wide-Body Luxury on a Single-Aisle

Etihad Airways has officially unveiled its all-new Airbus A321LR.

Launching Aug 1, 2025, it will carry 144 Economy passengers, 14 Business seats, and just 2 First Class suites, all with amenities normally found on a 777 or 787. Etihad has literally shoehorned widebody comforts into a narrowbody.

Clearly, Etihad wants to double down on elevating regional flying. This is all part of Journey 2030, aiming to double fleet size and add 16 new destinations this year

Economy on the A321LR has 144 seats in a normal 3‑3 layout, and you’d be hard pressed to find the 18.4″ anywhere else. That’s basically Emirates A380-economy width. The seats have a modest 5″ recline, but the real win is the space. Legroom isn’t record-breaking, but Etihad has optimized geometry for comfort.

I wouldn’t call it premium economy, but you’d get a lot more room than a typical narrow-body. (By contrast, JetBlue’s A321LR “Core” cabin only has 90 seats, so Etihad’s version is denser but compensates with wider seats.) Etihad claims these seats give “wide-body comfort on a narrow-body”, and looking at that plush fabric and generous elbow room, I’d agree. It’s arguably the nicest economy you can find on a short-haul jet today.

Every seat features a 13.3″ 4K touchscreen IFE, USB ports, and access to Etihad’s next-gen entertainment suite.

Economy Class on the new A321LR

The Business Class cabin holds 14 seats in a 1‑1 herringbone layout. These are open mini-suites (no door) but still staggered for privacy and all have aisle access. Every Business seat is fully flat (78″ bed) with a 17.3″ 4K IFE screen and wireless charging just like on Etihad’s 787 and A350.

Business class on this narrowbody rivals or even surpasses some old widebody business cabins, which is exactly the point.

(For anyone wondering about privacy, the seat shells are tall and canted away from the aisle. It’s definitely more private than a standard 2‑2 or 2‑3 narrowbody layout.)

There are just two First Class Suites, one on each side in the very front. Fully enclosed by sliding doors (a single‑aisle first), plus a ‘buddy seat’ for companion dining and a 20″ 4K IFE screen.

CEO Antonoaldo Neves claims that you’ll get “the same first class amenities…people expect in first class on an Etihad A380” complete with Armani Casa dinners. (No wonder a one-way First from AUH to Zurich is already priced at about AED 22,460 (~US$6,115), roughly 35% more than the Business fare)

The seat hardware is literally very similar to JetBlue’s Mint Studio seats. Etihad took the Stelia Opera seat (also used by JetBlue) and added a door and companion pad for a true suite feel. So while JetBlue’s two front-row “Studio” seats are very private, they have no door. Etihad’s do.

To me, it looks like packing an A380 First into an A321: overkill maybe, but definitely an experience you’d want to try.

Etihad is introducing a true First Class offering on a narrowbody aircraft for the first time ever.

Frequent flyers: Expect more schedule flexibility on thinner routes. This means more daily flights to places like Milan, Zurich, Dusseldorf, Copenhagen, Bangkok or Kolkata, but with premium cabins that rival wide-body jets.

Bringing business & luxury to shorter hops: Do you have OneWorld/Etihad credit? You’ll earn and redeem miles on real lie‑flat and suite products.

Market disruption: Etihad’s strategy enables them to launch new routes and boost frequencies without needing bigger jets meaning premium-leaning travellers get more choice.

As far as I know, no other airline is putting a true First Class on a narrowbody the way Etihad is.

For example, JetBlue’s A321LR (Mint) also has all-aisle-access seats and big screens, but their layout is 24 Mint seats (including 2 big “Mint Studio” front-row suites) and just 90 economy seats. JetBlue’s Studios are excellent (with huge TV and a sliding door), but they’re still technically business class seats.

Etihad instead offers only 16 total premium seats, but each First suite actually includes a companion space and a door.

Qantas recently rolled out A321XLRs for Perth–London, but its cabin is very different. Qantas packs 20 Business seats in a 2-2 config(each a recliner with 37″ pitch) and no First Class at all. That’s closer to a standard domestic business cabin, comfortable, but definitely not flat beds or private suites.
The A321LR could be the only way to get First-Class amenities (door, double bed, premium dining) on short to medium routes.

It’s a bold move and fares will be steep (First is ~US$6K as noted), but the product is unlike anything else. For savvy travelers, it opens up fun new redemption or upgrade possibilities on regional flights.

Is this practical? Only time will tell. Cabin crews will have to prep gourmet meals in a tiny forward galley, and Etihad has to sell enough premium tickets to make it work. But on paper, it’s a game-changer for regional luxury.

I, for one, can’t wait to try out those new suites (and yes, I’m already checking my award availability).