ABU DHABI- Etihad Airways (EY) is expanding its widebody and narrowbody fleet with the reactivation of two more Airbus A380s and the delivery of its first Airbus A321LR aircraft.
The Airbus A380s will serve major long-haul routes, while the new A321LR is set to bring premium widebody style comfort to short and medium-haul destinations. These new upgrades will change Etihad’s position at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) as a rapidly growing global aviation hub.
Photo: By Lars Hentschel – http://www.airliners.net/photo/Etihad-Airways/Airbus-A380-861/2548788/L/, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37377248Etihad’s Fleet Expansion
Etihad Airways’ (EY) decision to reinstate nearly all of its grounded Airbus A380s signals a confident return to high-capacity operations. Initially retired in 2020 during the pandemic, the A380 fleet is now being revived in phases.
7 A380s are already in service, and 2 additional aircraft, registered as A6-EPC and A6-APB, will rejoin in June 2026 and January 2027, respectively. One unit, A6-APE, will be permanently decommissioned and parted out.
By early 2027, Etihad will operate 9 Airbus A380s, a strategic move reflecting CEO Antonoaldo Neves’ long-term vision to keep the aircraft flying through at least 2032.
These aircraft currently fly from Abu Dhabi (AUH) to major international cities, including London (LHR), Paris (CDG), Singapore (SIN), and Toronto (YYZ), with future routes under review after discontinuing A380 service to New York (JFK) due to underperformance.
According to OMAAT, this fleet revival aligns with Etihad’s return to profitability and increasing global demand for premium air travel.
Photo: By Mitchul Hope – Etihad Airways | A6-APB | Airbus A380-861 | London Heathrow Airport (LHR/EGLL), CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=129305775A380 Experience
Etihad’s Airbus A380s are configured with 485 seats across three primary cabins. At the forefront is The Residence, a three-room suite available as a first-class upgrade, offering a private bedroom, living area, and bathroom.
This is followed by 9 First Class Apartments, renowned for their unmatched space and privacy with a 1-1 configuration.
The aircraft also features 70 Business Studios with direct aisle access and lie-flat beds, mirroring Etihad’s 787 design. Economy passengers benefit from 405 seats, including 80 with extra legroom, laid out in a 3-4-3 configuration across the lower deck.
A unique onboard space called The Lobby provides a shared social area between first and business class cabins.
Photo: EtihadAirbus A321LR
In a move to elevate regional travel, Etihad has introduced its first Airbus A321LR, the first of 30 such aircraft to be delivered. The narrowbody aircraft introduces premium cabin features typically found on long-haul aircraft.
Notably, it includes First Suites, private enclosed spaces with sliding doors and lie-flat beds, marking a first for Etihad’s single-aisle fleet.
The 14-seat business class cabin features a 1-1 herringbone layout, ensuring both aisle access and window views.
The economy cabin includes 144 ergonomic seats with 13.3-inch 4K screens, USB charging, and Bluetooth connectivity. Enhanced overhead bins offer more storage space than traditional narrowbodies.
Photo: EtihadRoute Expansion
The A321LR is equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi powered by Viasat, enabling passengers to stream, browse, and game with speeds in the hundreds of Mbps. This gate-to-gate connectivity will be progressively available on Asian routes by September 2025.
Entering service on August 1, 2025, the A321LR’s initial route will be from Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Phuket (HKT).
Additional destinations include Bangkok, Copenhagen, Milan, Paris (CDG), Zurich (ZRH), and more. This aligns with Etihad’s aggressive growth strategy, having launched or announced 27 new routes within a year.
Photo: By Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK – Airbus A380-861 ‘A6-APE’ Etihad, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44518492Future Outlook
The addition of both the A380s and A321LRs supports Etihad’s Journey 2030 vision, aiming to serve 38 million passengers annually by the end of the decade.
These fleet investments reinforce Abu Dhabi’s strategic importance in global aviation and set the foundation for Etihad’s continued transformation into a more expansive, premium-focused airline.
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Etihad Ends A380 Flights to New York to Deploy it on This Destination
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