Etihad A321LR: flatbed ‘business plus’ or first class?

Etihad Airways’ new Airbus A321LR jets look set to go beyond business class, with the single-aisle aircraft’s front row being marketed as ‘first class’.

As many as 40 long-range A321neo models have been ordered, and the Gulf carrier has tentatively scheduled the A321LR to launch on Friday 1 August 2025 between Abu Dhabi and Phuket. The aircraft will then be one of three daily flights on the seven-hour flight.

As expected, Etihad’s A321LR will feature fully flat Business Class beds, with 14 confirmed suites spread across seven rows in a 1-to-1 layout.

And while CEO Antonoaldo Neves previously confirmed that the A321LR will be topped with “two seats at the front of the cabin offering even more comfort” than business class, those row 1 berths are now listed on Etihad’s website as first class.

Etihad’s A321LR will fly between Abu Dhabi and Phuket.

That said, the asking price of AED 22,540 (US$6,140) one-way in first class, compared to a standard price of AED 8,590 (US$2,340) in business class, suggests the price is a bit of a surprise as Etihad is refining its system for the A321LR.

The advertisement for this A321LR flight (EY414) lacks other aircraft-specific details, such as Wi-Fi, inflight entertainment, power supply and the fact that it is a flatbed aircraft.

What Etihad says about the new A321LR

“As Etihad Airways continues its ambitious fleet expansion, the airline looks forward to adding new aircraft to its fleet next year,” an Etihad Airways spokesperson told Executive traveler.

“As we prepare for their arrival, guests and travel agents can watch for these aircraft on select routes in our GDS system.”

“While details of the aircraft, onboard offerings and their destinations remain under wraps, we are excited to reveal more in the coming months when we officially unveil our enhanced network and product offering.”

Business Plus or First Class?

It remains to be seen whether this pair of seats in row 1 will actually be sold as first class – and if so, what features will be employed to broaden the appeal of these first-class benches.

The more conventional approach of what is often called ‘business plus’ involves not only creating extra space but also making improvements such as a much larger video screen, your own wardrobe, a footstool that can double as a seat for dining with your party and even your own mini bar.

The showpiece of this on an A321 is undoubtedly JetBlue’s Mint Studio, located in row 1 of the US airline’s Mint Suites cabin.

JetBlue’s spacious A321LR Mint Studio.

However, this approach has also been applied to several larger twin-aisle aircraft, such as Air New Zealand, Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic.

Etihad expects to have ten A321LRs in its hangars by the end of 2025, expanding its service to key destinations.

“The strategic intent for them is frequency and thinner markets,” Neves told Aerotelegraph earlier this year.

“If I were to fly to Copenhagen twice a day with a widebody aircraft, I would lose a lot of money. But it will work out in the end if I can send an A321LR to Copenhagen.”

“Or I can fly that plane to Nice seven days a week. But I can’t send a Boeing 777 to Nice seven days a week.”

“I’m a big believer in frequency,” Neves adds. “I hate flying three times a week to a certain destination. I like consistency. So I fly all year round, at least daily. The A321LR helps with that.”

Neves also confirmed that its A380 superjumbos would continue flying until at least 2032 and suggested new first class suites could also be on the way for Etihad’s next wave of long-haul Airbus A350 or Boeing 777X flagships.