Latest news with #AirbusA321LR
Cision Canada
7 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
Air Transat Extends its Routes to Bordeaux and Valencia in Winter 2025-2026 Français
Two European destinations accessible from Montreal earlier in the year MONTREAL, May 26, 2025 /CNW/ - Air Transat, voted 2024 World's Best Leisure Airline by Skytrax, is strengthening its annual transatlantic network by extending its routes to Bordeaux (BOD) and Valencia (VLC) for the winter of 2025-2026. Previously offered only during the summer, these exclusive routes will now operate from February with a weekly non-stop flight from Montréal-Trudeau (YUL) aboard an Airbus A321LR. "By expanding our presence in France and Spain during the winter, we are taking another step toward making our transatlantic program available year-round," said Sebastian Ponce, Transat's Chief Revenue Officer. "Having recently added Valencia to our summer program, its winter extension is a testament to the destination's potential. As for Bordeaux, its winter addition strengthens our presence in the French provinces, a priority market for Air Transat." The winter service to Bordeaux joins those to Lyon, Marseille and Nantes, confirming the strategic importance of France in Air Transat's network and meeting the expectations of both the leisure market and of travellers visiting their loved ones. As for Spain, extending the route to Valencia – whose inaugural flight is scheduled for June 20 – confirms the popularity of this fast-growing destination. It joins Madrid and Malaga in Air Transat's winter portfolio, consolidating the company's year-round presence in Spain. Starting February 21, weekly Saturday flights to Bordeaux and Valencia will be offered, further enriching Air Transat's summer program, which will extend through October 2026. Tickets for these destinations are now available for booking. Details of the full Winter 2025-2026 program will be announced soon. About Air Transat Founded in Montreal 37 years ago, Air Transat is a leading travel brand voted 2024 World's Best Leisure Airline by passengers at the Skytrax World Airline Awards. Its program offers access to international destinations, mainly in Europe, the Caribbean, the east coast of the United States, South America and North Africa. Air Transat is recognized for its excellent customer service. Its fleet includes some of the most energy-efficient aircraft in their category. Based in Montreal with major hubs in YUL Montréal-Trudeau International Airport and Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ), it has 5,000 employees with a common purpose to bring people closer together. Air Transat is a business unit of Transat A.T. Inc. (TSX: TRZ). SOURCE Transat A.T. Inc.
Tourism Breaking News
15-05-2025
- Business
- Tourism Breaking News
Premium seat capacity to double as Etihad responds to Italian market growth, adds triple-daily Milan and double-daily Rome flights responding to market appetite
Post Views: 93 Etihad Airways is reporting significant growth in travel demand between Italy and Abu Dhabi. Etihad to increase frequencies to triple-daily flights between Milan Malpensa Airport and Abu Dhabi, and double-daily flights from Rome Fiumicino Airport. The uplift is supporting Abu Dhabi's tourism ambitions and reinforcing broader commercial and cultural links between Italy and the UAE. Jurriaan Stelder, SVP Network, Alliances and Industry Affairs, Etihad Airways, said: 'The consistent growth we're seeing from the Italian market highlights Abu Dhabi's appeal as both a destination and global hub. Italian travellers are responding well to our offering, with steady demand across both leisure and business segments. This connectivity is strengthening tourism and supporting deeper ties across trade, culture and investment.' Italy has emerged as one of Etihad's fastest-growing European markets, with travel between Italy and Abu Dhabi increasing by 76% compared to 2023. This reflects the growing appeal of the UAE capital as a destination for Italian visitors. This sustained demand has prompted Etihad to increase frequencies to triple-daily flights between Milan Malpensa Airport and Abu Dhabi, and double-daily flights from Rome Fiumicino Airport, providing Italian travellers with convenient options to visit Abu Dhabi. The third daily frequency on Milan will be operated by Etihad's new Airbus A321LR, offering a premium experience that includes a dedicated First class cabin, fully lie-flat Business seats, high-speed Wi-Fi, and an enhanced onboard dining service. This aircraft brings Etihad's signature long-haul comfort to short- and medium haul travel, further elevating the travel experience for Italian guests. From November, Etihad will be offering more than 10,000 weekly seats between Italy and Abu Dhabi per direction, representing an 80% capacity increase compared to November 2023. The number of premium seats available will double to more than 1,000 per week, responding to increased demand in this segment. The airline continues to strengthen its presence in Italy through strategic partnerships. Through our partners ITA Airways and Trenitalia, travellers can travel from 14 domestic airports and 31 railway stations across Italy to connect to Etihad's flights from Rome and Milan. This builds on the successful codeshare partnership with ITA Airways which was established in December 2021, enabling enhanced connectivity between the UAE and Italy.
Economic Times
04-05-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Etihad wants to fit premium features into its smallest plane
Etihad Airways, known for its luxurious A380 Residence, is bringing premium offerings to its new Airbus A321LR aircraft. This move reflects a broader trend where narrow-body planes like the A321LR and XLR are taking on long-distance routes, prompting airlines to enhance passenger experience with amenities typically found on larger aircraft. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads When Etihad Airways received its first Airbus SE A380 jets a good decade ago, the airline furnished the front of the giant double decker with a veritable luxury playground it called the Residence, a three-room layout featuring a double bed, living area and shower cubicle - all with a personal butler on the Abu Dhabi-based carrier wants to squeeze its premium offering into far more constrained quarters: the narrow confines of an Airbus SE A321 long-range aircraft that joins its fleet in the next few months. While Etihad has dispensed with its Residence servant in tailcoats and white cotton gloves, the airline promises amenities like sliding privacy doors, lie-flat seats, and large screens, all packed into an aircraft no wider than a city ambitious cabin layout highlights how the workhorse aircraft in the industry - the Airbus A320 family and the Boeing Co 737 - are increasingly pushing into spheres that were once the reserve of large planes. The A321LR and its longer-range sibling, the A321XLR, are built for long-distance routes like Europe to India or across the Atlantic, meaning passengers expect amenities they'd typically enjoy when flying on much bigger budget carrier Wizz Air Holdings Plc has chosen to go the no-frills approach with its narrobody long-range jets, other airlines are using the planes to expand premium service on longer routes without needing to fill the more fuel-guzzling and sometimes too-large widebody jets.
Gulf Business
29-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
Etihad Airways debuts the all-new Airbus A321LR
Image: Etihad Airways Etihad Airways has launched its all-new Airbus A321LR, bringing wide-body comfort and luxury to short and medium-haul routes for the first time, the airline said on Sunday. The A321LR, part of Etihad's strategy to redefine narrowbody travel, features an all-new First Suite, 14 fully-flat Business seats with direct aisle access, and upgraded Economy seating. The launch marks a major step toward Etihad's 'Journey 2030' vision to double its fleet size, triple passenger numbers, and open 16 new destinations in 2025 alone. 'The A321LR is an amazing aircraft which proves our commitment to luxury, customer experience, and connectivity,' said Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of A321LR: Features of First-Class Suites, Business Class on Etihad The new First Suites offer a private, enclosed space with a sliding door, lie-flat bed, elevated dining, and a 20-inch 4K entertainment screen with Bluetooth pairing and wireless charging. Only two First Suites are available per aircraft, offering an intimate, ultra-premium experience typically reserved for long-haul widebodies. Business Class features 14 fully-flat beds in a 1-1 herringbone layout, each with a 17.3-inch 4K screen, wireless charging, Bluetooth headphone pairing, and personal storage space. Meanwhile, 144 Economy seats provide up to five inches of recline and 18.4-inch width — among the widest in the industry — along with 13.3-inch 4K touchscreens and USB charging. Passengers across all cabins can access superfast Wi-Fi, capable of speeds up to 1 Gbps, thanks to Viasat's advanced, multi-orbit ready system, enabling streaming, social media, gaming, and live TV throughout the flight. New aircraft starts services on August 1 The A321LR enters service on August 1, 2025, flying from Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport to destinations including Algiers, Athens, Bangkok, Chennai, Chiang Mai, Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, Kolkata, Krabi, Medan, Milan, Phnom Penh, Phuket, Riyadh, Tunis, and Zurich. Ten A321LR aircraft are expected to join the fleet this year. Etihad is also expanding its First class offering across more routes, supported by new premium services launching alongside the A321LR. These include personalised travel planning via the new Etihad Concierge, private chauffeur services to and from airports, dedicated First Check-In, and luxury transfers to aircraft doors at Zayed International Airport. 'First isn't just a seat – it's an experience that starts the moment you choose to fly with us,' Neves said. 'We're bringing First to more destinations and elevating it at every touchpoint, combining the elegance of champagne and caviar with the convenience of modern luxury.'
Arabian Business
28-04-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
Etihad Airways unveils new A321LR aircraft featuring First Class suites
Etihad Airways has unveiled its new Airbus A321LR, bringing wide-body comfort to short and medium-haul routes with the introduction of First Suites on a narrowbody aircraft, during the first day of Arabian Travel Market 2025. 'With our new First Suites, 14 lie-flat Business seats with direct-aisle access, and upgraded Economy, 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 Wi-Fi throughout the journey. 'More broadly, the A321LR marks a transformational moment for Etihad as we accelerate toward our Journey 2030 vision: doubling our fleet size, tripling our passenger numbers, and opening 16 new destinations in 2025 alone,' the airline's CEO, Antonoaldo Neves said in a statement. Etihad launches narrowbody aircraft with widebody luxury experience The A321LR, which enters service on August 1 2025, features two exclusive First Suites with sliding doors, lie-flat beds and 20-inch 4K screens. The Business cabin offers 14 lie-flat beds in a herringbone layout with direct aisle access, while Economy provides 144 seats at 18.4 inches wide. Etihad's A321LR comes equipped with Viasat's advanced system capable of speeds up to 1 Gbps, available from gate-to-gate where permitted, allowing all passengers access to streaming, social media and gaming. For First class passengers, the experience extends beyond the aircraft. A new 24/7 Etihad Concierge service will provide personalised travel planning, while private chauffeur service will be available in the UAE and all First destinations. First passengers will be personally escorted through dedicated check-in and boarding processes. In Abu Dhabi, they will soon benefit from complimentary Home Check-In and Land & Leave services, with private limousine transport to the aircraft door at Zayed International Airport when flights do not board directly from the terminal. '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 champagne and caviar with the convenience of modern luxury,' Neves added. The A321LR forms part of Etihad's Journey 2030 vision to double its fleet size, triple passenger numbers and open 16 new destinations in 2025 alone.
