Etihad Airways
has revealed its first two European routes for its yet-to-be-delivered Airbus A321LR
: Abu Dhabi to Copenhagen and Düsseldorf. While both destinations are already served, the much lower-capacity equipment than the currently deployed widebodies means flights rise to daily, freeing up the widebodies for use elsewhere.
It will offer a much more competitive offering to European cities while substantially reducing trip costs per flight. As the take-off dates are a year away, things certainly may change. The LR’s first route is still expected to be Abu Dhabi-Phuket in August 2025.
When writing, Abu Dhabi-Düsseldorf is Etihad’s longest planned LR route by Great Circle distance and maximum block time, but for how long?
Up to 40 LRs are expected
Etihad’s first LR is due to arrive in 2025, and the airline anticipates 30-40 of them. Each will have 160 seats in a three-class layout, as summarized below. The bells and whistles will be announced in February.
- Two first class seats with a fully flat bed (1-1); a first for its narrowbodies
- 14 business seats with a fully flat bed (1-1); a notable improvement over its current narrowbody business class
- 144 economy seats (3-3)
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Etihad A321LRs to Copenagen, Düsseldorf
The details are summarized below. Etihad only began flying to the Danish capital in September 2023, a city that will see Emirates’ 615-seat A380s again next year.
Düsseldorf is very different. Etihad flew there between 2011 and 2020, returning in September 2023. Between 2012 and 2017, the now-defunct airberlin also flew to Abu Dhabi on behalf of its then-equity partner Etihad.
Image: GCMap
Düsseldorf is likely to be performing poorly. Not only does it operate only three times weekly, among Etihad’s least-served European destinations, but it has had no flights since the end of March, with the route returning on October 29.
Etihad hopes the LR will help to improve Düsseldorf’s fortunes. However, seats for sale will rise by 29%, hopefully balanced by the more competitive offering and a brand-new product, which should improve yields.
|
Abu Dhabi to… |
A321LR details |
What is the current offering? |
Weekly roundtrip seats change |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Copenhagen |
Daily from October 1, 2025 |
Four times weekly year-round flights on the 290-seat 787-9 |
The A321LR will provide 2,240 weekly seats, -3% compared to now |
|
Düsseldorf |
Daily from October 1, 2025 |
Three times weekly year-round flights on the 290-seat 787-9 |
The A321LR will provide 2,240 weekly seats, 29% more than now |
Related
Etihad To Announce Next US Route “Very Soon”
At Routes World in Bahrain, Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, Arik De, said that the carrier will announce “another US route very soon.” Naturally, he gave no hints.
It currently serves Boston, Chicago O’Hare, New York JFK, and Washington Dulles. In the past, it flew to Dallas/Fort Worth (until March 2018), Los Angeles (March 2020), and San Francisco (October 2017).
Where would you like them to fly next? Let us know!
Hang on: why the LR?
The LR will enable Etihad to fly on longer and thinner routes where widebody capacity isn’t needed or is not possible, whether new or, as we have seen, replacing aircraft in existing markets. It will help to right-size routes year-round, in the low season, or at a particular time of day, improving yields and loads.
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Number two is brand-new…
As with Copenhagen and Düsseldorf, it could allow higher frequencies (a key objective for the airline) and, therefore, a more competitive offering and higher market share, which might not be feasible or sustainable on a widebody. However, the impact of little freight must be considered. It could also serve a destination year-round rather than seasonally with a widebody.
Where could be next in Europe?
Where would aviation be without speculation or suggestion? The following list identifies examples of possible European routes for the LR:
-
Year-round double daily with the LR:
- Athens (currently eight weekly in the winter, double daily in the summer)
- Barcelona (currently 10 weekly year-round)
- Madrid (currently 10 weekly year-round)
- Vienna (currently daily year-round)
- Year-round daily LR service:
-
Possible new destinations with the LR (none previously served by Etihad):
- Berlin (if it could obtain traffic rights; could be double-daily year-round)
- Budapest
- Oslo (if the range enables it with a full load, especially in winter)
- Stockholm Arlanda (if the range allows for it with a full load, especially in winter)
- Warsaw