Etihad Airways has unveiled the seating configuration for its soon-to-be-introduced Airbus A321LR twinjets. Despite concerns about the comfort of narrowbody aircraft, Etihad aims to provide a luxury experience comparable to its widebody aircraft. The introduction of these aircraft is part of Etihad’s growth strategy, enhancing seating quality and WiFi connectivity, thereby mirroring its widebody passenger experience.
Earlier today, Etihad detailed its three-class configuration for the Airbus A321LR. Notably, it will feature two first-class suites located at the front of the passenger cabin. These suites offer extra space and a larger in-flight entertainment screen. Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, commented: “The A321LR is an amazing aircraft which proves our commitment to luxury, customer experience, and connectivity. With our new First Suites, 14 lie-flat business class seats with direct-aisle access, and upgraded economy class, we’ve taken the luxury experience which we are famed for on our widebody fleet and adapted it to offer guests the same experience in a single-aisle aircraft – all while keeping them seamlessly connected with superfast, streaming WiFi throughout the journey.”
The first-class suite is described as “a private, enclosed space with a sliding door, lie-flat bed, elevated dining, and bespoke design touches.” This marks the first deployment of such a product on a narrowbody aircraft for Etihad, reflecting its commitment to uniform fleet experience. Positioned behind these suites are 14 business-class flatbeds, arranged to maximize aisle access and equipped with Bluetooth pairing and wireless charging.
For economy class passengers, Etihad promises a spacious experience with 144 seats measuring 18.3 inches wide, offering a generous recline and equipped with USB charging. The in-flight entertainment will be available through a 13.3-inch touchscreen, and high-speed WiFi, provided through a partnership with Viasat, ensures connectivity at speeds up to 1 Gbps.
Etihad is equipping its A321neo fleet with six aircraft delivered to date and 20 orders outstanding. This initiative is part of its continued effort to align the experience across all fleet types, from widebody to narrowbody aircraft.
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