Summary
- Celebrating 20 years, Etihad unveils new livery on A321neo featuring Abu Dhabi landmarks.
- Etihad is leasing six A321neos previously flying under Bamboo Airways.
- The next-generation narrowbody will complement its regional network around the Middle East and India.
Etihad Airways has shown off a new special livery painted on one of its A321neo jets to commemorate its 20th anniversary. The locally-inspired design features both Arabic and English with artwork depicting Abu Dhabi landmarks.
Etihad’s unveils 20th anniversary livery
The carrier has chosen one of its newly-arrived Airbus A321neos to showcase its special 20th anniversary livery. The calligraphic, line-style livery incorporates Etihad’s usual desert-inspired color scheme but with detailed depictions of famous Abu Dhabi. Etihad Airways said,
“The design’s line-style art celebrates the intricate beauty of unity, with each stroke embodying the essence of the airline’s home.”
The aircraft is the fourth of six A321neos due to arrive at Etihad this year after the first airframe was delivered in May. The narrowbody jet has been given the registration A6-AEN and will offer 20% more fuel efficiency compared to previous-generation A321s owing to its CFM LEAP-1A engines.
Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad’s Chief Executive Officer, added,
“The livery marks our 20th year of delivering remarkable service, fulfilling our mission to deliver extraordinary experiences inspired by our Emirati identity.”
Etihad’s A321neo order
These six A321neos are not coming brand-new from the factory – instead, Etihad is leasing all of them after previous operator Bamboo Airways terminated their leases due to restructuring. The jets are all still youthful at less than six years old and will come with three different seating configurations based on their time with Vietnamese carrier Bamboo.
Etihad placed an order with Airbus for 26 A321neos back in 2013, but would end up deferring this order as it reframed its growth objectives over the years. Last December, the airline revealed it would be leasing the six aforementioned jets with a view to launching operations this summer.
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Etihad Airways has only taken delivery of four aircraft in the past two years, all four being the Boeing 787.
The next 18 months will be very busy for the Emirati carrier fleet-wise, with more than 20 new aircraft expected to arrive in 2025. This includes the arrival of its first A321LRs alongside additional widebody jets in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350-1000.
Route plans
As per ch-aviation, the airline has inducted two of these A321neos thus far. Its incoming neos are expected to operate regional routes around the Middle East and India, flying to the likes of Cairo, Doha, Mumbai and Muscat.
Photo: Etihad Airways
They will complement Etihad’s existing narrowbody fleet of 14 A320ceos and nine A321ceos – this fleet commonality is one of the reasons why Etihad has been able to induct a brand-new aircraft type into its fleet so quickly. According to John Wright, Etihad’s Chief Operations and Guest Officer,
“An airline normally takes up to two years to bring a new airframe and engine type into operation, and it is a testament to the speed and flexibility of our Etihad teams and our partners that we have been able to commission them safely and compliantly within seven months.”
Are you looking forward to flying on one of Etihad’s A321neos? Let us know in the comment section.