Lifestyle

Saudi carrier deploys long-range A321XLRs with lie-flat business class on European, Indian Ocean routes from Jeddah and Riyadh hubs. Saudi Arabia's flag carrier will introduce Airbus A321XLR aircraft on nine medium-haul routes starting next May, replacing widebody Boeing 787s and Airbus A330s with advanced narrowbody jets configured with fully flat business class seats. Saudia published initial deployment plans for the 144-seat aircraft, which will operate routes from Jeddah and Riyadh to destinations including Vienna, Male in the Maldives, Madrid, Barcelona, Geneva, Athens, Moscow, and Mauritius between May and October 2026, according to schedules released by the airline. The carrier has 15 A321XLRs on order and expects deliveries to begin in the first half of 2026. The aircraft will gradually replace some widebody operations from Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport and Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport. Vienna will be the first route to see the A321XLR in service, with flights from Jeddah beginning May 23, 2026. The thrice-weekly service will replace the current Airbus A320 operating the route and will increase to four flights per week during the peak summer season between June 21 and September 5. The airline will deploy the aircraft on its Jeddah-Male route starting July 1, replacing Boeing 787-9 and 787-10 aircraft currently operating the service. Saudia will increase frequencies on the Maldives route from twice weekly to three times weekly. Other routes scheduled for A321XLR service include Riyadh-Moscow starting July 3, replacing Airbus A320s, and Jeddah-Madrid beginning August 1, taking over from 787-9 and 787-10 operations. Both routes will see frequency increases. Saudia configured the A321XLR with 24 business class seats and 120 economy seats. The business cabin will feature Thompson VantageSOLO seats offering fully flat beds and direct aisle access in a 1-1 configuration, an unusually spacious layout for a single-aisle aircraft. The carrier will introduce the aircraft on Geneva routes from both hubs in September. Jeddah-Geneva service will begin Sept. 1 with four weekly flights, replacing Airbus A330 aircraft, while Riyadh-Geneva flights start Sept. 2 with three weekly departures. The deployment schedule concludes with Barcelona and Mauritius routes from Jeddah in late October. The Barcelona service launches Oct. 27, and Mauritius flights begin Oct. 25, both operating three times weekly and replacing 787-9 operations. Saudia originally expected to introduce the A321XLR by 2024, but ongoing delivery delays pushed the timeline to 2026. The airline has begun accepting bookings for some flights, though not all reservation systems have been updated with the new aircraft assignments. The A321XLR deployment comes as Saudi Arabia prepares to launch new carrier Riyadh Air. Industry observers expect Saudia may eventually withdraw from international operations at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport when the new airline establishes services, though no official announcement has been made. Key Takeaways Saudia will deploy 15 Airbus A321XLRs on nine routes from Jeddah and Riyadh starting May 2026, replacing Boeing 787 and Airbus A330 widebody aircraft. The 144-seat aircraft feature 24 fully flat business class seats in a 1-1 configuration with direct aisle access, offering premium comfort on medium-haul routes. Initial destinations include Vienna, Male, Moscow, Madrid, Athens, Geneva, Barcelona, and Mauritius, with service launches spanning May through October 2026. Aircraft deliveries were delayed two years from the original 2024 target, with first deliveries now expected in early 2026.

Lifestyle

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