It will seem that Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is getting ready to place Airbus A321neos into service, representing a brief haul fleet renewal on the airline. Nevertheless, I’m a bit skeptical concerning a number of the particulars…
Etihad A321neos could begin flying in Could 2024
Etihad formally has 26 Airbus A321neos on order, that are supposed to resume the provider’s slim physique fleet. So far as slim physique plane go, Etihad at present has 14 Airbus A320s and 9 Airbus A321s in its fleet, that are a median of 12 and 9 years outdated, respectively.
We’ve heard just about nothing about Etihad’s A321neos for fairly a while. AeroRoutes is now reporting that Etihad has scheduled its first A321neo routes, for flights as of Could 1, 2024.
The airline is predicted to debut the plane between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Doha (DOH) as of Could 1, 2024, with further service within the subsequent weeks to locations like Amman (AMM), Bahrain (BAH), Bangalore (BLR), Cairo (CAI), Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM), Muscat (MCT), and extra.
Etihad A321neos could have 196 seats, 16 in enterprise class
What ought to we count on onboard the Etihad A321neo? The jet will function 198 seats, together with 16 enterprise class seats and 182 economic system class seats. As some extent of comparability, Etihad’s present A321s have 196 seats, together with eight enterprise class seats and 188 economic system class seats. So Etihad is rising the general capability of those jets by two seats, whereas additionally including eight enterprise class seats.
Etihad takes a little bit of an unconventional method with its slim physique plane. Arguably quick haul flights throughout the Gulf have the best commonplace of service of nearly wherever on the planet. But Etihad now not has private televisions in economic system on its slim physique jets, and enterprise class can also be extra alongside the traces of what you’d discover on a home flight inside the USA.
With Etihad densifying its slim physique cabins even additional, it sounds to me just like the airline is sticking to that technique, and isn’t putting in flat beds in enterprise class. I suppose that’s not stunning, although it positive provides prospects an incentive to attempt to ebook a large physique jet with the airline.
Are Etihad A321neos actually getting into service quickly?
Right here’s what makes this all so unusual. Again in 2013, Etihad positioned an order for 26 Airbus A321neos. This was at a time when Etihad was planning limitless progress, and needed to compete with Emirates head-on. The airline then underwent a significant restructuring, in an effort to turn into extra financially sustainable. The airline is now in a significantly better place, and is even worthwhile.
Nevertheless, we haven’t heard a peep concerning the A321neo. As of a few years in the past, Etihad’s plan was to ship all of those A321neos to Abu Dhabi-based Air Arabia, for the airline to develop its regional community. Nevertheless, that was at a time the place the airline nonetheless had a distinct CEO (who’s now at Riyadh Air).
Etihad’s present CEO is hoping to develop the airline slowly however steadily, so taking supply of extra slim physique jets is sensible. The factor is, I haven’t seen a single image of an Etihad A321neo on an Airbus manufacturing line, which you’d assume we’d have seen by now, if the primary airplane will enter service within the coming weeks.
So I’m undecided what precisely to make of this, although I’ll attain out to a contact to attempt to make clear. It positive could be good if Etihad did renew its slim physique fleet, particularly with this configuration that has extra premium seats. Nonetheless, one thing isn’t fairly including up right here.
Backside line
Etihad Airways has scheduled its first Airbus A321neo routes as of Could 2024. These planes are anticipated to be denser than current A321s, with a capability for 2 further passengers, and with eight extra enterprise class seats.
It’s good to see Etihad renewing its slim physique fleet, but it surely’s additionally a bit stunning, since there had been no indication of those deliveries being imminent, till now.
What do you make of Etihad’s Airbus A321neo state of affairs?
