Etihad has become the first airline to offer fully enclosed first class suites on a single-aisle aircraft with a sold-out inaugural flight to from Abu Dhabi to Phuket. Olivia Palamountain reports

Etihad Airways has made aviation history by launching the first commercial flight of its A321LR aircraft featuring fully enclosed first class suites on a single-aisle plane - a luxury typically reserved for much larger widebody aircraft.

The inaugural flight EY414 from Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport to Phuket was sold out across all cabins, marking a significant milestone in the airline's strategy to bring premium widebody experiences to shorter routes.

The aircraft represents the first of 30 A321LR planes scheduled to join Etihad's fleet, each designed to deliver what the airline describes as "widebody luxury on a single-aisle aircraft."  The innovative cabin layout features two fully enclosed first suites with sliding doors and flat beds - an unprecedented offering on a narrowbody aircraft. Each suite includes space for guests to dine privately or with a companion, featuring 20-inch 4K screens, wireless charging, and Bluetooth pairing capabilities.

Arik De, chief revenue and commercial officer at Etihad Airways, says: "The A321LR symbolises our ambition to deliver extraordinary experiences on every route we serve. It allows us to bring the sophistication of our widebody cabins, including our renowned first experience, to more destinations, and to more travellers, than ever before." The business class features 14 seats in a 1-1 herringbone configuration, ensuring direct aisle access for every passenger - a layout typically found only on long-haul widebody aircraft. Each seat includes 17.3-inch 4K displays and wireless charging capabilities.

Even economy class receives enhanced features with 144 ergonomically designed seats offering generous legroom, 13.3-inch 4K touchscreens, and Bluetooth headphone pairing - specifications that exceed many airlines' premium economy offerings.All cabins feature high-speed wifi capable of video conferencing, streaming movies, and gaming, being rolled out progressively on Asian routes. The connectivity represents a significant advancement in narrowbody aircraft internet capabilities.

The aircraft delivery represents Etihad's broader strategy to redefine expectations for short and medium-haul premium travel, bringing luxury features previously exclusive to intercontinental routes to regional services.The successful sold-out inaugural flight demonstrates strong market demand for premium narrowbody experiences, potentially setting a new industry standard for single-aisle aircraft configurations.