Saudia Takes Delivery Of A321XLR To Become First Gulf Operator

Saudia has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR and will become the first airline in the Middle East and Africa to operate Airbus' extra-long-range narrowbody.

The handover comes after the Saudi Arabian flag carrier had originally expected to receive the type in 2024. The aircraft, reg. HZ-ASBA, arrived at Saudia's hub in Jeddah on May 24 and is the first of 15 A321XLRs on order as part of a broader fleet expansion and modernization strategy. All 15 are expected to be delivered by the end of 2027.

Saudia has not confirmed specific routes, but said the aircraft will support network growth across tourism, business, major events and pilgrim travel. A 2023 press release from the airline regarding the A321XLR's business-class seats said that Barcelona, Brussels, Milan and Rome in Europe could be served by the type, alongside the Maldives and Dakar, Senegal.

Ibrahim Al-Omar, Saudia Group's director general, says the delivery reflects the momentum of the airline's ongoing transformation in line with Vision 2030. “As we continue to grow our fleet, our focus is not only on adding capacity, but on investing in aircraft, products, and capabilities that strengthen Saudia's competitiveness and support the Kingdom's aviation ambitions,” he says.

Powered by CFM International Leap-1A engines, the A321XLR has a range of up to 8,700 nm and a flight time of up to 11 hours, Airbus says. Saudia's cabin features a low-density configuration with 24 full flat-bed business-class seats, each with direct aisle access, and 120 seats in economy.

The aircraft is the airline's first to feature core elements of “The New Saudia Experience,” a refreshed onboard offering covering comfort, connectivity, entertainment, dining and service consistency.

Saudia's all-Airbus narrowbody fleet contains the A321neo, A320-200 and A321-200. It has commitments for over 100 more A320neo-family jets.

The airline said the A321XLR will help support Saudi Arabia's goal of attracting more than 150 million visitors annually by the end of the decade.