Etihad Airways has announced the launch of its new Airbus A321LR, a narrow-body aircraft that the Abu Dhabi airline promises will deliver the same standard of luxury it is known for on wide-body, long-haul flights.
This includes the introduction of the carrier’s new first-class suite: two private, enclosed spaces with sliding doors, lie-flat beds and companion seating, along with a large 20-inch 4K screen for entertainment with Bluetooth pairing and wireless charging.
The new business-class cabin will feature 14 lie-flat 78-inch beds arranged in a 1-1 herringbone configuration, each with direct aisle access and a 17.3-inch 4K in-flight entertainment screen.
Meanwhile, in economy, there will be 144 18.4-inch-wide seats offering up to a five-inch recline, plus 13.3-inch 4K touchscreens and USB charging.
Etihad chief executive Antonoaldo Neves said the airline is at a “transformational moment” as the A321LR brings the airline’s wide-body luxury to a single-aisle jet for the first time.
“The A321LR is an amazing aircraft which proves our commitment to luxury, customer experience and connectivity,” he said at a media briefing at Arabian Travel Market.
“We’ve taken the luxury experience we’re known for on long-haul flights and adapted it seamlessly to short and medium-haul routes – all while keeping guests connected with superfast Wi-Fi.”
The bespoke service extends beyond the flight, as first-class guests booking on the A321LR will also have access to the new Etihad concierge – a 24/7 travel planning service – as well as private chauffeur transfers at arrival and departure destinations.
At Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport, Etihad is enhancing ground services via dedicated check-in, private lounge access, and meet-and-assist services that take passengers to the aircraft door in a private limousine if the flight does not board directly from the terminal.
First-class customers will also benefit from free home check-in and land-and-leave services that allow guests to travel baggage-free through the airport.
The first A321LR enters service on August 1, with 10 aircraft joining the fleet by year-end, a further 10 being delivered next year and another 10 in 2027. The aircraft will initially operate routes linking the UAE capital with cities such as Athens, Milan, Paris, Riyadh, Bangkok, Phuket and Zurich, among others.
By focusing on key regional and medium-haul routes, the airline aims to connect the UAE more efficiently to major tourist and business centres, supporting the emirate’s broader economic and tourism ambitions.
Set to launch this August, the introduction of this new aircraft marks a milestone in Etihad’s Journey 2030 strategy to double fleet size and triple passenger numbers within the next five years.
It is also aggressively expanding its network, with plans to open 16 new destinations in 2025 alone, including destinations like Phnom Penh in Cambodia and Chiang Mai in Thailand, marking the first time the UAE has been connected directly to these cities.
Last month, Etihad also signed a joint venture with Ethiopian Airlines as the two carriers aim to develop routes between the UAE and Ethiopia, tapping into the countries' growing aviation markets. Etihad will start daily flights from Zayed International Airport to Addis Ababa Bole International Airport from October 1, while Ethiopian Airlines will begin reciprocal services on July 15. Etihad is slated to start two more African routes in 2025, to Tunis and Algiers, both in November.
Neves said the airline is in “good shape”. “We are having a great April,” he said. This comes after Etihad reported a total revenue increase of 25 per cent annually last year, driven mainly by a surge in passenger revenue. Passenger traffic grew by 32 per cent annually to 18.5 million, as Etihad Airways launched more than 20 new destinations during the year, including Boston, Jaipur, Bali and Nairobi.
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Wednesday's results
Finland 3-0 Armenia
Faroes Islands 1-0 Malta
Sweden 1-1 Spain
Gibraltar 2-3 Georgia
Romania 1-1 Norway
Greece 2-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Liechtenstein 0-5 Italy
Switzerland 2-0 Rep of Ireland
Israel 3-1 Latvia
Zayed Sustainability Prize
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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$1,000 award for 1,000 days on madrasa portal
Daily cash awards of $1,000 dollars will sweeten the Madrasa e-learning project by tempting more pupils to an education portal to deepen their understanding of math and sciences.
School children are required to watch an educational video each day and answer a question related to it. They then enter into a raffle draw for the $1,000 prize.
“We are targeting everyone who wants to learn. This will be $1,000 for 1,000 days so there will be a winner every day for 1,000 days,” said Sara Al Nuaimi, project manager of the Madrasa e-learning platform that was launched on Tuesday by the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to reach Arab pupils from kindergarten to grade 12 with educational videos.
“The objective of the Madrasa is to become the number one reference for all Arab students in the world. The 5,000 videos we have online is just the beginning, we have big ambitions. Today in the Arab world there are 50 million students. We want to reach everyone who is willing to learn.”
DIVINE%20INTERVENTOIN
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Abu Dhabi Card
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 1,400m
National selection: AF Mohanak
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 90,000 1,400m
National selection: Jayide Al Boraq
6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 100,000 1,400m
National selection: Rocket Power
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship Listed (PA) Dh 180,000 1,600m
National selection: Ihtesham
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 1,600m
National selection: Noof KB
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 2.200m
National selection: EL Faust
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont
Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950
Engine 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.3-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E299hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E420Nm%20at%202%2C750rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E12.4L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh157%2C395%20(XLS)%3B%20Dh199%2C395%20(Limited)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
