Etihad’s First Airbus A321LR Takes Off This August 2025

  • Publish date: Wednesday، 30 July 2025 Reading time: 1 min read

Abu Dhabi to Phuket gets a major upgrade as Etihad’s new jet joins the skies.

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Etihad Airways is kicking off August with a shiny new addition: the Airbus A321LR. The airline's first of its kind will enter commercial service starting 1st August 2025, with the Abu Dhabi–Phuket route as its debut journey.

More Destinations Lined Up

Once warmed up, the aircraft won’t stop at Phuket. Expect it to fly soon to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Copenhagen, Milan, Paris, and Zurich.

The jet landed at Zayed International Airport last Friday, welcomed by Etihad staff and stakeholders. No champagne showers reported, but spirits were definitely high.

Why It’s a Big Deal

This isn’t just another plane — it’s part of Etihad’s huge expansion push. The airline has launched or announced 27 new routes this year alone and plans to bring in nine more A321LRs in 2025.

This new fleet is also a piece of the airline’s Journey 2030 game plan, where they’re aiming to fly 38 million passengers a year.

A Jet That Can Go the Distance

The A321LR blends long-range capability (up to 4,000 nautical miles) with fuel efficiency, letting airlines serve longer routes that usually needed bigger planes — minus the wide-body hassle.