Saudia has taken delivery of its first long-range, narrow-body Airbus A321XLR aircraft, which joins its fleet for the first time and is the first of its kind among airlines in the Middle East and Africa.
The move is part of Saudia's plans to grow its fleet and modernize its aircraft, supporting its operational and marketing requirements and sustainability targets, and boosting its ability to increase operations across a network of more than 100 destinations on 4 continents, as well as reach new international destinations that help connect the world to the Kingdom, according to a post on Saudia's LinkedIn account.
The A321XLR has a range of up to 8,700 km and a flight time of up to 9 hours per flight, giving Saudia greater flexibility in operating medium- and long-haul flights using a narrow-body aircraft.
The new aircraft features 24 Business Class suites and 120 Guest Class seats, with 13-inch screens, charging ports and seats designed with modern technologies, as well as an upgraded cabin that includes high-speed internet, enabling streaming, real-time connectivity and access to entertainment platforms.
The aircraft also offers an onboard chef service with Saudi and international menus, as part of Saudia's drive to develop the travel experience on its new aircraft.
Eng. Ibrahim bin Abdulrahman Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, explained that the delivery of the new type is part of the largest investment in Saudia's history to enrich the customer experience, adding that the A321XLR offers the comfort and service standards associated with wide-body aircraft within a narrow-body aircraft.
He noted that the new type marks the beginning of a package of initiatives within Saudia's new travel experience, which aims to enhance and redefine the guest experience in the coming years.
The move is an extension of the deal concluded by Saudia Group with Airbus to purchase 105 firm aircraft, as part of the group's drive to support the localization of the aviation sector, strengthen national supply chains and increase economic impact through procurement and cumulative investments.
Airbus continues to work with Saudi suppliers to qualify them to join global aviation supply chains, helping to strengthen local content and create investment opportunities with a sustainable economic impact.
Saudia is scheduled to receive a total of 15 A321XLR aircraft by 2027, supporting the Saudi Vision 2030 targets in tourism, entertainment, sports and serving the Guests of God.
The new aircraft will support Saudia's readiness for the major events the Kingdom will host in the coming years, led by the AFC Asian Cup 2027, Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034, by strengthening the company's capacity to transport organizers, participants and visitors to the Kingdom.
To view the post on Saudia's LinkedIn account, click here.
