Etihad Airways has announced a major change to regional flights at Arabian Travel Market
Etihad Airways is officially launching the region's only true first-class cabin on a single-aisle aircraft – and it's taking sky-high luxury to a whole new level.
Starting August 1, Etihad's all-new Airbus A321LR is ready to roll out, marking a major milestone in the airline's ambitious Journey 2030 growth plan.
This aircraft brings all the elegance of widebody flying to shorter trips, redefining what it means to hop across the region.
Luxury Refined ✨
Our all-new A321LR is here, bringing wide-body comfort to short and medium-haul routes. Enjoy a spacious First Suite, lie-flat Business, and next-gen Economy with 4K touchscreens. #Etihad #ATM2025 @ATMDubai pic.twitter.com/VOT09Hlsac — Etihad Airways (@etihad) April 28, 2025
First-class flyers are in for a treat. The A321LR features two ultra-exclusive first suites – private havens complete with sliding doors, lie-flat beds, plush dining setups, wireless charging and massive 20' 4K entertainment screens.
It's the first time Etihad has brought its full-on widebody First experience to a narrowbody aircraft.
And the indulgence doesn't stop there. Business class travellers will enjoy fully lie-flat beds arranged in a 1-1 herringbone layout – think direct aisle access, huge 17.3' screens and Bluetooth connectivity for your headphones.
Even Economy is stepping up its game, offering one of the widest seats in the sky, high-definition touchscreens and fast USB charging, all while you binge movies or scroll Instagram thanks to high-speed Wi-Fi that's available from gate to gate.
But Etihad's idea of first class is more than just what happens once you're in the air. Booking a First ticket now unlocks a full luxury journey from start to finish. Think personalised service from the new Etihad concierge team, private chauffeur rides to and from the airport, fast-track First check-in and exclusive access to the Etihad First Lounge. Not bad.
If you're flying out of Abu Dhabi, you'll soon even get a private limo drive to the plane and the option for home check-in, meaning you can saunter through the airport baggage-free.
As Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways said: 'First isn't just a seat – it's an experience that starts the moment you choose to fly with us.
'We're bringing First to more destinations and elevating it at every touchpoint, combining the elegance of premium bubbly and caviar with the convenience of modern luxury.'
And with ten A321LRs joining the fleet this year alone, that five-star treatment will be available on even more routes, including hotspots like Paris, Milan, Bangkok, Zurich and Riyadh.
Flying away soon?
Travelling from Abu Dhabi is about to be so much faster
Zayed International Airport is the world's first airport to make this change
25 visa-on-arrival destinations UAE residents can visit
Here's where to go
Flying from Abu Dhabi soon? Here's your ultimate guide to Zayed International's Pearl Lounge
Talk about travelling in style
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arabian Post
an hour ago
- Arabian Post
Vingroup awarded first-class labor order for outstanding achievements in developing the national exhibition and convention center
HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 August 2025 – Vietnam's Party General Secretary Tô Lâm presents the First-Class Labor Order to Mr. Phạm Nhật Vượng – Chairman of Vingroup – in recognition of the Group's outstanding achievements, at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Hanoi, Vietnam. The conferment ceremony was part of the Inauguration and Groundbreaking Ceremony of National Projects commemorating the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day (September 2, 1945 – September 2, 2025), held at the inauguration site of the National Exhibition and Convention Center, Tu Lien Bridge area, Dong Anh District, Hanoi. ADVERTISEMENT The National Exhibition and Convention Center is a state-level key project, ranked among the top 10 largest exhibition centers in the world. With a total area of about 900,000 square meters, it is envisioned to become a premier international destination for global trade fairs and exhibitions, as well as a new symbol of Hanoi's development. Construction commenced on August 30, 2024, and the site was handed over on June 27, 2025—after just 10 months of construction, 15 months ahead of schedule. This remarkable pace set a new benchmark in Vietnam's construction sector, overcoming major challenges in engineering and executing a massive steel dome structure of unprecedented scale and complexity. As both investor and general contractor, Vingroup maximized all resources, proactively designed construction plans, coordinated manpower, equipment, and materials, and ensured seamless supply chain management across multiple contractors. During peak construction periods, the project mobilized hundreds of contractors and about 3,000 workers and engineers, supported by 800–1,000 pieces of heavy machinery sourced from across the country, including 300–500 ton cranes and super-heavy transport vehicles. The site operated at full intensity, 24/7 in three shifts, optimizing every moment to shorten construction time by 60%. While accelerating progress, Vingroup also maintained strict oversight of each component, ensuring safety, quality, and long-term sustainability of the project. ADVERTISEMENT Mr. Nguyen Viet Quang, Vice Chairman and CEO of Vingroup, shared: 'Receiving the First-Class Labor Order at the inauguration of the National Exhibition and Convention Center is a profound honor and pride for all Vingroup employees. We are committed to continuing our spirit of perseverance and determination to operate the Center successfully, contributing to making Hanoi and Vietnam leading destinations for world-class political, economic, cultural, and social events.' At the heart of the Center is the Kim Quy Exhibition Hall, one of the world's largest circular exhibition hall with an area of approximately 130,000 square meters and a central height of 56 meters. Located in Hanoi, the National Exhibition and Convention Center covers 90 hectares and ranks among the world's top 10 largest exhibition venues. Inspired by the sacred Golden Turtle God (Kim Quy) of the Co Loa legend, the hall's unique architecture is hailed as a new wonder of the capital. Its engineering posed extraordinary challenges: a steel dome weighing 24,000 tons, assembled from ultra-large steel beams and high-strength bolts using specialized torque-severing methods to ensure quality control and double the standard safety factor. The roof is covered with ultra-light, ultra-durable fiberglass fabric, offering natural translucency and energy efficiency in line with global green building standards. Beyond the Kim Quy Exhibition Hall, Vingroup has developed a comprehensive exhibition ecosystem including four outdoor plazas (East, West, South, North), the VinPalace International Convention Center, landscaped green parks and lakes, and large-scale parking facilities. With capacity for hundreds of thousands outdoors and thousands indoors, the Center is not only suited for mega exhibitions but also for large-scale events such as concerts, national festivals, and global technology showcases—meeting the strictest international requirements and redefining Vietnam's MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) industry. One of the key drivers behind this construction milestone is the upcoming National Achievements Exhibition – 80 Years of Independence, Freedom, and Happiness, taking place from August 28 to September 5, 2025. For the first time, all provinces, ministries, sectors, and enterprises across Vietnam will gather in a single national-scale exhibition, expected to attract millions of visitors and reignite national pride. The accelerated completion of the National Exhibition and Convention Center not only demonstrates Vingroup's strong financial capacity, professional execution, and effective project management, but also affirms its commitment to serving the nation and the strength of Vietnam's private enterprises in this new era of global integration. Hashtag: #Vingroup The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Time Out Abu Dhabi
6 hours ago
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
These are the UAE airlines to use if your Air Canada flight has been cancelled
Around 500,000 travellers across the globe have been affected by the grounding of all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights. Among those affected are UAE residents travelling with the airline between Toronto and Dubai during the busy summer travel period. If you're stuck in Canada and need to get home before the start of the academic year, or were due to travel west from DXB, there are a few options you can take this month. The airline has issued advice for travellers who had booked before Friday August 15, which you can see here. Alternative travel can be arranged that will get you back to the United Arab Emirates, including two direct options from Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport and DXB. Direct flights to Canada from the UAE Etihad Etihad Airways UAE travellers can fly with Etihad Airways. The Abu Dhabi-based airline operates a daily route to Toronto Pearson International Airport, departing at 2.20am GST. Planning a holiday? 27 new Etihad flights 2025: New routes to US, China, Kenya, Russia and more If you're travelling from Dubai and are booked on an Etihad Airways flight, you can get a free bus to the UAE capital from New Safestway Supermarket on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. Flights are priced from Dhs4,811 according to Skyscanner if you're travelling this month from Abu Dhabi to Toronto. For those who need to get back to the UAE from Toronto, flights are priced from Dhs2,830 with Etihad Airways in August. Flights with stopovers are available to book too, according to Skyscanner, however, the vast majority include a flight with Air Canada, so keep this in mind while the crisis is ongoing. Emirates Emirates (Credit: Emirates) Alternatively, Emirates flights to and from Toronto Pearson International Airport continue to operate as normal, while Air Canada flights are grounded across the globe. The DXB-based airline flies once daily from the world's busiest airport. If you're travelling from Abu Dhabi and have a valid Emirates flight ticket, then you can make use of the free shuttle bus service by Emirates. The bus from Abu Dhabi leaves from the front of the Emirates office on Corniche Road and drops passengers at Terminal 3 arrivals at Dubai International Airport. Flights from DXB start from Dhs1,962 direct to Toronto this week, while flights from Toronto start at Dhs4,957 with Emirates this month. Flights with stopovers are available to book too, according to Skyscanner, however, the vast majority include a flight with Air Canada, so keep this in mind while the crisis is ongoing. Elsewhere in Abu Dhabi A Disney theme park resort is officially coming to Abu Dhabi – here's what we know so far This is a dream come true You can now get a robotaxi from Zayed International Airport Trips to the airport just got an upgrade Abu Dhabi's best restaurants: Everywhere you should eat at least once Your dinner inspo is sorted 20 incredibly fun ways to explore Abu Dhabi after dark The city is at its most fascinating once the sun goes down
Gulf Today
5 days ago
- Gulf Today
Etihad Airways exceeds 20 million passengers in 12 months for first time
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has released its traffic statistics for July 2025, reporting continued growth in passenger volumes and network expansion. In July, Etihad carried 2.0 million passengers, a 19 percent increase compared to July 2024, when the airline flew 1.7 million guests. The passenger load factor rose to 90 percent, up from 89 percent in the same month last year, reflecting strong demand and efficient capacity management. Etihad's operating fleet now stands at 111 aircraft, supporting a growing network of 81 passenger destinations, up from 76 a year earlier. These figures underscore the airline's ongoing investment in fleet and route development. Etihad welcomed 12.2 million passengers year-to-date, a 17 percent increase over the same period in 2024. The average passenger load factor for 2025 so far is 88 percent, compared to 86 percent in the previous year. The airline's rolling 12-month total has reached 20.3 million passengers, further solidifying its position among the region's fastest-growing carriers. Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said, 'We continue to see strong momentum in our performance, with passenger numbers in July growing by 19 percent year-on-year. Our rolling 12-month total has surpassed 20 million for the first time in our history reflecting the trust our customers place in our service and the strength of our network." 'Our fleet expansion continues with the notable arrival of our first A321LR. July was a record month, with five new aircraft joining Etihad, including two Boeing 787s, an Airbus A350-1000, an A320, alongside the inaugural A321LR. These additions reflect our commitment to growth and boosting capacity across our global network.," he added. WAM
