Saudia has become the first airline in the Middle East and Africa to take delivery of the Airbus A321XLR.
The Saudi Arabian flag carrier received the Airbus in Toulouse on May 25, with the jet being delivered to the airline’s Jeddah hub, before placing it into service six days later. The aircraft, registered HZ-ASBA (c/n 12779), is the first of 15 A321XLRs ordered by Saudia and is powered by CFM International LEAP-1A engines.
The delivery introduces core elements of “The New Saudia Experience”, the airline’s refreshed on-board product. Saudia’s A321XLR is configured in a premium-heavy 144-seat layout, comprising 24 fully lie-flat business class seats with direct aisle access and 120 economy ‘Guest Class’ seats.
The cabin features Airbus’s Airspace interior, including larger overhead bins, advanced lighting and a quieter passenger environment, while economy passengers will have 13in in-flight entertainment screens and charging ports. High-speed connectivity is also planned, supporting browsing, streaming and virtual meetings.
Saudia Group Director General Ibrahim Al-Omar said the delivery reflected the momentum of the airline’s transformation, adding that the carrier was investing not only in capacity, but in aircraft, products and capabilities to strengthen its competitiveness.
The A321XLR is expected to support Saudia’s international growth as Saudi Arabia targets more than 150 million visitors annually by the end of the decade under Vision 2030. Saudia currently serves more than 100 destinations across four continents, and the new aircraft will allow the airline to open or sustain routes that may not justify year-round widebody deployment.
