Etihad Airways’ first Airbus A321LR enters commercial service today, 1 August, debuting on the Abu Dhabi-Phuket route before expanding to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Copenhagen, Milan, Paris and Zürich.
The aircraft represents a bold step for the company, being the first single-aisle jet in the world to feature a dedicated first-class cabin. It introduces long-haul features such as lie-flat beds and private suites into shorter-distance markets previously served by more basic cabins. The move is a calculated bet on the future of luxury travel.
Monocle’s transport correspondent Gabriel Leigh joined the Middle Eastern airline on the passenger jet’s delivery flight from Hamburg to Abu Dhabi, and Georgina Godwin on The Globalist to report on the “premium-heavy” onboard atmosphere.
“They’re trying to give premium-level passengers a seamless transition from long-haul widebody flights to these new routes, where they still get lie-flat beds, privacy – even closing doors in first class,” he says. “It’s a very beautiful aeroplane on board.”
The A321LR, which is part of the A320neo family, is configured with two private First Suites offering wireless charging, Bluetooth pairing and space for a guest. Business class is comprised of 14 herringbone seats that convert into lie-flat beds – a layout usually reserved for the likes of the A380.
The airliner’s long-range capability allows companies to operate longer and fly less conventional routes that wouldn’t have been practical before. “Airlines such as Etihad can experiment a bit,” says Leigh. “They couldn’t fly to many places – say Krabi, Medan or Phnom Penh – with wide-bodies, but this aircraft lets them reach those destinations and see how the routes perform.”
Aviation experts agree. Paul Charles, CEO of the PC Agency and former director at Virgin Atlantic, says the move signals a shift in how high-end travel is delivered, and a big step ahead of competitors. “Etihad is saying, ‘This is the new battleground for us,’ and they’re determined to make it a success, especially with rising competition from new carriers such as Riyadh Air. The food quality is superior too.”
The new jet arrives amid the air carrier’s growth spurt, with 27 new routes launched or announced in 2025 alone.
The UAE airline’s gamble is clear: that premium passengers will pay for comfort, even on mid-length flights. “Most travellers don’t even think about aircraft type,” says Leigh. “If the seat, space and privacy feel the same, Etihad may convince them that single-aisle luxury can match long-haul expectations.”
If customers are willing to pay more for a better experience, even on shorter routes, Etihad is making sure that it meets the mark. Will other airlines rise to the pressure and catch up?
Listen to the full report from 51:10, below:
Growth strategy
Casina Cinquepozzi, Italy
When Nigerian-born, London-based jewellery designer Thelma West and her partner, Stefano Liotta, first visited the Casina Cinquepozzi property in Puglia, they fell in love with it immediately. “Even from the driveway, I could tell that there was something special about it,” says West. Since then, the pair have been renovating the space to turn it into a guesthouse, which is expected to open in early 2025.
Named after the five wells on the property, the Casina Cinquepozzi is an 18th-century manor house surrounded by more than 16 hectares of land. When the couple took on the restoration, they decided to retain everything that could be preserved. “We wanted to keep the magic that we felt when we first saw it,” says West. “It has been a beautiful process of getting to know the people of Puglia better and finding out what they can bring to the table in terms of craft.”
There are 55 rooms spread over the three floors of the main manor house and attached buildings, where original tiles and frescoes mix with more modern elements inspired by one of Liotta’s favourite architects, Mario Bellini. “The ground floor held on to a lot of the original masseria features so we only brought in a few additional colours,” he says.
As well as the hotel, West and Liotta are preparing an artist’s residency programme, which will allow creatives to spend time in Puglia. Here, they will be able to take inspiration from the region and find moments of serenity.
As the couple get ready to welcome their first guests, they aren’t too worried about achieving perfection right away. “This isn’t a hotel where everything is fixed for ever,” says Liotta. “The Casina Cinquepozzi is a home and it will change as we and the guests live and grow.”
casinacinquepozzi.com
Experimental jet set
Noma Projects,
Copenhagen
Though Noma closed its doors at the end of 2024, the exploratory spirit of the three-Michelin-star restaurant lives on in Noma Projects. At this “food laboratory”, launched in 2022, chef René Redzepi and his team are busy experimenting with flavours and bottling up their findings for home cooks. Its most recent release consists of six products for the pantry – think pumpkin-seed praline with hints of pine oil and umami-rich mushroom garum. Here’s hoping that securing these goodies is easier than nabbing a table at the restaurant.
nomaprojects.com
Soft option
Caon Design Office, Sydney
It isn’t always easy to nod off when you’re hurtling through the sky at an altitude of 35,000 feet. Thankfully, two Australian companies have collaborated on a new concept that might help. Sydney-based practice Caon Design Office has teamed up with the Woolmark Company, the global authority on wool, to develop Modulo – a cocoon-like First Class seat consisting of merino wool wound around a light titanium and carbon-fibre frame.
“Merino wool is a wonderful material when it comes to breathability and heat dissipation,” says David Caon, the lead industrial designer at Caon Design Office. “One of the big barriers to falling sleep onboard an aircraft is being too warm. Passengers often struggle to regulate temperature. The Modulo seat’s open-membrane structure will allow for better airflow and a unique, textured aesthetic.” Caon will also install backlighting and smart speakers in the seat’s meshed weave to help foster a calming atmosphere.
Modulo’s benefits will extend to airlines that adopt the system too. The use of Australian merino wool as a primary material means that there’s no need to rely on bulky, unsustainable foam. Furthermore, merino will save on weight.
Best of all, Modulo is – as its name suggests – modular, so airlines can easily strip the weave and replace it with another. “The concept’s flexibility allows airlines to evolve their cabins, brand them and keep things fresh,” says Caon. Sweet dreams.
caondesignoffice.com; woolmark.com
