Saudia has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR, the long-range narrowbody that will introduce a new premium cabin on the airline’s medium- and long-haul network. The aircraft, registered HZ-ASBA, is the first of 15 A321XLRs on order.
The airline is configuring the jet with 144 seats in total, including 24 business class seats and 120 economy seats. In business class, Saudia will use the Thompson Aero Seating VantageSOLO layout in a 1-1 configuration, giving each passenger direct aisle access and a fully flat bed. The cabin also includes privacy panels and an 18-inch entertainment screen.
Saudia plans to use the A321XLR on routes that are not expected to sustain widebody demand year-round. Published schedules indicate early deployments from Jeddah to Vienna and later to destinations including Madrid, Geneva, Barcelona, Male, Mauritius, Moscow Sheremetyevo and Athens. The aircraft is expected to enter service in June 2026, following earlier delivery delays affecting the A321XLR program.