In a landmark moment for both its fleet and passenger experience, Etihad Airways has received its first Airbus A321LR at the Airbus Finkenwerder facility in Hamburg a major milestone in the airline’s growth trajectory and a bold step in redefining single-aisle travel.

The new A321LR is the first of 30 such jets set to join the Abu Dhabi-based carrier, ushering in a new era where widebody amenities and luxurious innovations are available on shorter routes. Etihad’s CEO, Antonoaldo Neves, hailed the delivery as “an extraordinary moment,” emphasizing the airline’s mission to deliver “luxury at every altitude” and across its expanding global network.

Among the jet’s standout features is Etihad’s inaugural narrowbody First Suites cabin—a first for the airline. These private suites offer sliding doors, fully-flat beds, and bespoke design touches reminiscent of the airline’s long-haul flagship products. Window seats are further enhanced by 20-inch 4K screens, Bluetooth pairing, wireless charging, and companion seating, blurring the line between widebody and narrowbody experiences.

The 14-seat Business Class cabin features a 1-1 herringbone layout akin to widebody flagships, with direct aisle and window access for every guest. Each seat sports a 17.3-inch 4K screen, wireless charging, and Bluetooth connectivity, elevating comfort and privacy on short-haul journeys.

Etihad’s Economy Class also receives a premium upgrade, offering 144 seats with extra space, 13.3-inch 4K seatback touchscreens, USB charging, and Bluetooth connection for personal headphones plus over a thousand hours of content. Increased overhead luggage space also brings widebody convenience to the narrowbody segment.

Airbus Executive Vice President Sales, Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, commented on the delivery: “The arrival of Etihad’s first Airbus A321LR symbolizes innovation and partnership, deepening the longstanding bond between Airbus and the UAE. This aircraft sets a new comfort benchmark for single-aisle jets and expands Etihad’s global reach from Abu Dhabi.”

The A321LR is also equipped with next-generation Viasat Wi-Fi, promising lightning-fast speeds reaching 100’s of Mbps for uninterrupted streaming, browsing, and gaming at cruising altitude. This gate-to-gate connectivity will be available on Asian routes from September 2025, ensuring travelers stay productive and entertained throughout their journey.

Set to debut commercially on 1 August 2025 on the Abu Dhabi–Phuket route, the A321LR will soon serve a diverse mix of both short- and medium-haul destinations, including Bangkok, Copenhagen, Milan, Paris, Tunis, Zurich, and more. The aircraft’s arrival is a key pillar in Etihad’s “Journey 2030” vision to reinforce Abu Dhabi as a world-class aviation hub and support the airline’s goal of reaching 38 million annual passengers by 2030.

With another nine A321LRs landing in 2025 and an ambitious slate of 27 new routes in a single year, Etihad is poised to bring the luxury of widebody flying to more travelers and more destinations than ever before—raising the bar for what’s possible in single-aisle aviation.

In a landmark moment for both its fleet and passenger experience, Etihad Airways has received its first Airbus A321LR at the Airbus Finkenwerder facility in Hamburg a major milestone in the airline’s growth trajectory and a bold step in redefining single-aisle travel.

The new A321LR is the first of 30 such jets set to join the Abu Dhabi-based carrier, ushering in a new era where widebody amenities and luxurious innovations are available on shorter routes. Etihad’s CEO, Antonoaldo Neves, hailed the delivery as “an extraordinary moment,” emphasizing the airline’s mission to deliver “luxury at every altitude” and across its expanding global network.

Among the jet’s standout features is Etihad’s inaugural narrowbody First Suites cabin—a first for the airline. These private suites offer sliding doors, fully-flat beds, and bespoke design touches reminiscent of the airline’s long-haul flagship products. Window seats are further enhanced by 20-inch 4K screens, Bluetooth pairing, wireless charging, and companion seating, blurring the line between widebody and narrowbody experiences.

The 14-seat Business Class cabin features a 1-1 herringbone layout akin to widebody flagships, with direct aisle and window access for every guest. Each seat sports a 17.3-inch 4K screen, wireless charging, and Bluetooth connectivity, elevating comfort and privacy on short-haul journeys.

Etihad’s Economy Class also receives a premium upgrade, offering 144 seats with extra space, 13.3-inch 4K seatback touchscreens, USB charging, and Bluetooth connection for personal headphones plus over a thousand hours of content. Increased overhead luggage space also brings widebody convenience to the narrowbody segment.

Airbus Executive Vice President Sales, Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, commented on the delivery: “The arrival of Etihad’s first Airbus A321LR symbolizes innovation and partnership, deepening the longstanding bond between Airbus and the UAE. This aircraft sets a new comfort benchmark for single-aisle jets and expands Etihad’s global reach from Abu Dhabi.”

The A321LR is also equipped with next-generation Viasat Wi-Fi, promising lightning-fast speeds reaching 100’s of Mbps for uninterrupted streaming, browsing, and gaming at cruising altitude. This gate-to-gate connectivity will be available on Asian routes from September 2025, ensuring travelers stay productive and entertained throughout their journey.

Set to debut commercially on 1 August 2025 on the Abu Dhabi–Phuket route, the A321LR will soon serve a diverse mix of both short- and medium-haul destinations, including Bangkok, Copenhagen, Milan, Paris, Tunis, Zurich, and more. The aircraft’s arrival is a key pillar in Etihad’s “Journey 2030” vision to reinforce Abu Dhabi as a world-class aviation hub and support the airline’s goal of reaching 38 million annual passengers by 2030.

With another nine A321LRs landing in 2025 and an ambitious slate of 27 new routes in a single year, Etihad is poised to bring the luxury of widebody flying to more travelers and more destinations than ever before—raising the bar for what’s possible in single-aisle aviation.

Etihad Airways is ramping up its expansion in 2025 by adding seven new routes that will enhance Abu Dhabi’s connectivity across the Gulf, Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. This strategy is designed to drive more direct point-to-point traffic to Abu Dhabi, positioning the city as a key hub for tourism, culture, and trade.

The new destinations include Almaty in Kazakhstan, Baku in Azerbaijan, Bucharest in Romania, Medina in Saudi Arabia, Tbilisi in Georgia, Tashkent in Uzbekistan, and Yerevan in Armenia. Flights to Medina will begin on November 9, 2025, operating six times a week, while services to the other six cities will start from early March 2026, with weekly frequencies ranging between four and ten flights.

Etihad’s CEO, Antonoaldo Neves, highlighted that these destinations connect Abu Dhabi to rapidly growing and culturally rich regions, stimulating tourism and economic activity. He noted the diversity of attractions these cities offer, from Medina’s religious significance to the vibrant urban culture of Baku and Almaty, and the historic depth of Tbilisi, Yerevan, and Bucharest.

 In total, Etihad will have added or announced 27 new routes in 2025, reflecting a significant milestone in its network growth and commitment to Abu Dhabi’s development as a global travel center.

Earlier in the year, Etihad launched routes to Prague, Warsaw, Sochi, and Atlanta, with 13 more additions expected later in 2025. The airline also revealed seasonal summer destinations for 2026, including Krakow in Poland, Salalah in Oman, and Kazan in Russia, targeting peak travel periods.

Each new city brings unique appeal: Medina attracts pilgrims with its spiritual heritage and iconic mosques; Bucharest offers elegant architecture and lively urban life; Tbilisi balances old-world charm and modern vibrancy; Yerevan boasts ancient history and a rich cultural scene; Baku stands out with its striking mix of tradition and futuristic design; Almaty provides a blend of natural alpine beauty and cosmopolitan buzz; and Tashkent offers a combination of historic sites and contemporary developments.

These additions will simplify travel to and from Abu Dhabi for business, leisure, and pilgrimage travelers alike, supported by Etihad’s world-class service and seamless connections. This expansion underlines Etihad’s vision of solidifying Abu Dhabi as a premier international aviation hub linking diverse regions around the globe.

A consortium led by UAE-based Air Arabia has won the license to establish and operate Saudi Arabia’s newest national low-cost carrier, headquartered in Dammam. The consortium, which includes Saudi partners Nesma Group and KUN Holding, was awarded the project by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and will operate out of King Fahd International Airport.

While the airline’s official name has yet to be announced, it is widely expected to carry the Air Arabia Saudi Arabia brand, following the company’s pattern of regional expansions such as Air Arabia Abu Dhabi and Air Arabia Egypt.

According to the initial roadmap, the airline aims to serve 24 domestic and 57 international destinations with a fleet of 45 aircraft by 2030. The project targets reaching 10 million passengers, boosting tourism, and supporting the economic development of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.

Adel Al Ali, Group CEO of Air Arabia, hailed the achievement as a milestone for regional aviation: “As a leading low-cost airline operator, this marks a key milestone reaffirming our commitment to support the Kingdom’s aviation growth. With our economic model and regional expertise, we aim to deliver a reliable, affordable travel experience for passengers.”

The announcement comes at a dynamic time for the region’s aviation market. Just days ago, Wizz Air announced its exit from Abu Dhabi after five years, sparking a reshuffle among low-cost carriers. Air Arabia responded swiftly, revealing plans to increase its Abu Dhabi capacity by 40% in 2025. Meanwhile, Etihad Airways added seven new destinations—previously served by Wizz Air—including key cities in Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector is riding a wave of rapid expansion. According to GACA’s Air Traffic 2024 Report, passenger numbers surged by 15% last year to 128 million, split between 59 million domestic and 69 million international travelers.

Adding to the country’s growing aviation reputation, travel tech firm AirHelp recently ranked Dammam’s King Fahd International Airport as the 10th best airport globally, with four Saudi airports making it into the world’s top 12.

The launch of the new Air Arabia-backed airline is expected to further cement Saudi Arabia’s position as a major aviation and tourism hub, aligning with its broader Vision 2030 goals of economic diversification and infrastructure development.

A Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into Milestone School and College in northern Dhaka’s Uttara district on Monday afternoon, killing at least 19 people and injuring 164, in what has become the deadliest air accident in the capital in recent memory.

The Chinese-made F-7BGI aircraft took off from BAF Base Bir Uttom AK Khandker at 1:06pm local time for a routine training flight but reportedly experienced a mechanical failure shortly after departure.

According to military officials, the pilot—Flight Lieutenant Md. Taukir Islam—attempted to steer the jet away from densely populated areas but crashed into the primary school building as students were in classes or sitting for exams. The pilot, who managed to eject, was critically injured and later died in hospital.

 

Most of the victims are believed to be children, as the plane struck classrooms for grades 1–5, as well as teachers and school staff. At least 16 students, two teachers, and the pilot are among the confirmed dead.

Over 100 others, including both children and adults, sustained injuries—many from burns—with doctors describing at least eight cases as critical and warning the toll could rise.

Footage from the scene revealed a massive blaze and thick, black smoke billowing from the wreckage. Emergency responders worked swiftly, with nine fire engine units and military personnel rescuing victims, battling flames, and transporting the injured to several area hospitals, including Dhaka

Medical College Hospital and the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery. Many students and teachers were seen helping each other, dragging the wounded to rickshaws and ambulances, as crowds of anxious parents and onlookers gathered nearby.

Several eyewitnesses reported scenes of chaos and terror. “When I looked back, I just saw fire and smoke… There were many guardians and kids here,” said one teacher. Another student described watching the aircraft hit the building “right in front of my eyes”.

The crash occurred just before school break, with many children still inside the building. Classes at Milestone School and College range from playgroup through secondary levels, with some 2,000 students enrolled.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and interim leader Muhammad Yunus expressed profound grief, calling the incident a “moment of deep national sorrow” and promising a thorough investigation. The Bangladeshi government has declared a national day of mourning for July 22.

Rescue operations are ongoing as authorities sort through debris and search for possible survivors. The Inter-Services Public Relations office confirmed a committee has been established to investigate the cause of the disaster.

Early reports suggest a sudden technical malfunction led to loss of control shortly after takeoff, but further details are pending.

This tragedy marks one of the worst aviation disasters in Bangladesh’s recent history and has sent shockwaves through the nation as families, students, and school staff mourn the devastating loss.

Customs officials at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport intercepted an Indian passenger arriving from Sharjah on July 3, 2025, and seized gold worth over ₹1.34 crore. The passenger was stopped based on profiling by the Air Intelligence Unit at Terminal 3, leading to a thorough search of his baggage and person.

During the search, officers discovered two plastic pouches containing a yellow-coloured paste. Upon further examination, three gold bars weighing a total of 1,484.5 grams were extracted from the paste, valued at ₹1,34,87,395. The gold was cleverly concealed in paste form, a growing smuggling technique where gold is melted and mixed with other substances to avoid detection by scanners and physical inspection.

A case has been registered against the passenger under the Customs Act, 1962. Following interrogation, customs officials identified and intercepted another individual believed to be the intended receiver of the smuggled gold. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not disclosed the identities of those involved.

Smugglers often use innovative methods to transport gold, including hiding it in clothing linings, food items, electronic devices, and even aircraft structures. Multiple carriers are frequently employed to minimize risk. Most gold smuggling into India originates from the Middle East and Southeast Asia, with major airports like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai being common entry points.

Customs officials rely on advanced screening technologies, behavioral profiling, and random checks to combat these sophisticated smuggling attempts. Despite stricter regulations and increased enforcement, gold smuggling remains a significant challenge due to high import duties and price disparities.

This recent seizure highlights the ongoing vigilance of customs authorities in protecting the country’s economic interests and curbing illegal trade. The case also emphasizes the need for continuous adaptation of detection methods to keep pace with evolving smuggling tactics.