Etihad Airways CEO Unpacks Big Bet on Small Jets

Etihad is hoping to outmaneuver its Gulf rivals with 30 small but premium aircraft. Will passengers buy the promise of private jet-like luxury?

In a region known for flying enormous 777s and double-decker A380s, Etihad’s newest star is a single-aisle jet. The Gulf carrier took delivery of its first Airbus A321LR this week, a long-range variant of a plane more typically used for short economy-focused flights.

The UAE airline is betting on the new aircraft to supercharge its network growth and broader brand revival. As Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves told Skift: “Today we show the world we’re back in the game, and specifically back in the premium game.”

That game involves an aircraft type already familiar to many travelers. The A321LR, an evolution of Airbus’ best-selling narrowbody, is new-generation, but not exactly groundbreaking.

JetBlue took delivery of its first in 2021, while Aer Lingus, Air Transat, and SAS are among others to use the jet on short transatlantic hops. But it’s the speed and scale at which Etihad is adding the A321LR – along with its distinctive three-class configuration – that is piquing industry interest.

Speaking at a media briefing at Airbus’ Finkenwerder factory in Germany, Neves left reporters scrambling for their notes. What was meant to be a tranche of 20 A321LRs became a throng of 30. Asked for clarity on the 50% increase, Neves quipped: “You guys are reading the wrong newspaper.”

Through a mix of leased aircraft and direct orders, Etihad will now receive 30 A321LRs over the next four years. A steady flow should result in 10 deliveries by the end of 2025, followed by another 10 the next year, then five each in 2027 and 2028. From the airline’s Abu Dhabi hub, the long-range jets will fly as far afield as Paris and Hanoi. Journey tim