Saudia Receives Middle East’s First Airbus A321XLR

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Jeddah: With the delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR, Saudia, the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, became the first airline in the Middle East and Africa to operate the airline's newest extra-long-range single-aisle. The milestone is a significant step in the airline's fleet modernisation programme and promotes the airline's goals of expanding international links under Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 program.

Saudi Arabia purchased 15 A321XLRs, the first of which was recently delivered and equipped with CFM International LEAP-1A engines. The narrow-body jet has a range of up to 4,700 nautical miles (8,700 km) and a flight duration of nine hours, allowing the airline to use it for longer international flights.

The aircraft is outfitted with Airbus' Airspace Cabin, which features larger overhead bins, improved lighting, and a quieter cabin environment. It also has 120 Economy Class seats and 24 fully flat Business Class seats. In addition, compared to previous aircraft generations, the jet is anticipated to save fuel consumption and carbon emissions by about 30% per seat, aiding Saudi Arabia in meeting its sustainability goals.

The A321XLR intends to provide new long-haul routes while boosting flexibility and reducing operational costs. Saudia currently connects more than 100 destinations across four continents. The airline's four-decade relationship with Airbus, which started with the delivery of its first Airbus A300 in 1984, is strengthened by this delivery.