Etihad Airways will introduce brand new Airbus A321LR aircraft, complete with ‘First suites’, to its Kolkata service in an upgrade to its Indian market operations.
Etihad’s first Airbus A321LR is scheduled to enter service on August 1, 2025, and will commence flights between Zayed International Airport (AUH) and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata (CCU) from September 26, 2025.
The upcoming fleet of A321LRs are equipped with two exclusive luxury First Suites, 14 fully lie-flat business seats, and an economy class featuring 4K touchscreens and high-speed Wi-Fi for 144 passengers.
“India is a key market for Etihad, and we are delighted to elevate our Kolkata service with our latest A321LR aircraft. With this upgrade, our guests can now enjoy a superior travel experience, whether in our luxurious First Suites, Business Class lie-flat seats, or next-generation Economy cabin,” said Arik De, Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer on July 9, 2025.
De added: “This investment underlines our ongoing commitment to providing world-class service and greater connectivity across the Indian subcontinent.”
Seat mode ➡️ Sleep mode. Introducing ultimate luxury on our A321LR ✨ Swipe to lie flat and wake up in one of 100+ destinations, starting 1 August 2025.#Etihad #BeyondBorders pic.twitter.com/fWExPcFLKr
— Etihad Airways (@etihad) July 10, 2025
Etihad is expecting 10 new A321LRs to be delivered this year with a total of 20 ordered. Two freshly painted A321LRs were recently pictured at the Airbus facility in Hamburg.
Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, has previously said that the A321LR’s arrival is a “transformational moment” in line with Etihad’s 2030 vision of doubling its fleet size, tripling passenger numbers, and opening 16 new destinations in 2025.
Our A321LR is almost ready for takeoff 🤩 Any guesses why the 🇩🇪 flag is on the tail, and not just the 🇦🇪 flag near the cockpit? #Etihad #BeyondBorders #A321LR
— Etihad Airways (@etihad) June 22, 2025
📸 @Tobias_Gudat pic.twitter.com/JHSIMsSqd4
The first A321LR commercial flight will be from Abu Dhabi to Phuket International Airport (HKT) in Thailand.
Etihad said that the Airbus A321LR is “designed to bring wide-body comfort to a single-aisle aircraft, offering enhanced space, privacy, and premium amenities”.
Etihad’s A321LR aircraft is scheduled to fly from Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport (AUH) to destinations including:
- Algiers’ Houari Boumediene Airport (ALG)
- Athens Airport (ATH)
- Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)
- Chennai International Airport (MAA)
- Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX)
- Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
- Dusseldorf Airport (DUS)
- Kolkata Airport (CCU)
- Krabi International Airport (KBV)
- Medan Airport (KNO)
- Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP)
- Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
- Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH)
- Phuket International Airport (HKT)
- Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH)
- Tunis-Carthage International Airport (TUN)
- Zurich Airport (ZRH)