Saudia’s new A321XLR with fully flat business class will launch on 10 routes in 2026
December 29, 2025
Saudi flag carrier Saudia is preparing to debut its new long-range Airbus A321XLR—part of an order for 15 A321XLRs first announced in 2019—which will feature a premium lie-flat business class cabin.
In official announcements, the airline has previously stated that the new aircraft “will cover destinations across Europe, the Indian subcontinent and Africa, including Milan, Barcelona, Brussels, Rome, the Maldives, and Dakar.” The airline has recently published 10 routes to be served by the A321XLR, beginning in May 2026.
New premium cabin on Saudia A321XLR
Saudia first unveiled its aircraft interiors plans for the A321XLR at the annual Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai in May 2023.
The airline confirmed it would introduce a dedicated business-class cabin with lie-flat seats for extended medium-haul flights. Saudia’s A321XLRs will have a low-density configuration with 144 seats, including 24 business class seats and 120 in economy.
Saudia announced it had selected the Thompson Aero Seating VantageSOLO suite for its business class, configured 1-1, with each suite offering both a window and direct aisle access.
The Vantage SOLO offers greater privacy than the airline’s previous business-class seats. It will feature a privacy shield around the back and an additional door at the aisle. The seats can fully recline to 180º in bed mode, allowing lie-flat sleep. The suite also features an 18” in-flight entertainment screen and increased storage space for personal items.
Saudia also announced it had selected Safran’s Z400 economy class seats for the new aircraft, which will feature a 13” IFE screen and “a generous seat recline.”
Saudia CEO, Captain Ibrahim Koshy, said of the cabins during the unveiling: “At Saudia, we are deeply committed to finding new and innovative ways to further enhance our renowned guest experience. We firmly believe that the VantageSOLO suite represents the epitome of comfort, privacy and luxury. Our new business class offering is the embodiment of Saudia’s dedication to constantly evolving its products and services to deliver a superior customer journey underpinned by the very latest technological developments.”
Where Saudia’s Airbus A321XLR will fly
Deliveries of Saudia’s A321XLR fleet were initially expected earlier but have been pushed to 2026 due to global program delays affecting the Airbus A321XLR rollout. First operations are now slated for around the peak Northern Hemisphere summer schedule, beginning May 2026.
According to operational plans filed with route trackers AeroRoutes, Saudia is positioning the A321XLR to gradually replace both narrowbody and widebody equipment on select international services. With these deployments, Saudia will leverage the A321XLR’s efficiency to serve both key European gateways and leisure destinations from its hubs in Jeddah and Riyadh, extending its range to operate routes traditionally flown by larger aircraft.
Saudia’s planned A321XLR routes by date of introduction:
- Jeddah – Vienna (effective May 23, 2026). Three weekly flights, with four weekly flights scheduled between June 21 and September 5. The A321XLR will replace the airline’s A320 on this route.
- Jeddah – Male (effective July 1, 2026). Service will increase from two to three flights weekly. The A321XLR will replace the airline’s Boeing 787-9/-10 Dreamliners on this route.
- Riyadh – Moscow Sheremetyevo (effective July 3, 2026). Three weekly flights. The new A321XLR will replace the airline’s A320 on this route. AeroRoutes reports that Saudia intends to increase service from three to four flights weekly, effective September 10, though additional flights are not yet available for reservation.
- Jeddah – Madrid (effective August 1, 2026). Four weekly flights. The A321XLR will replace the airline’s Boeing 787-9/-10 Dreamliner on this route. The airline intends to increase service from four to six flights per week, though the additional flights are not yet available for booking.
- Riyadh – Athens (from August 5 to August 26, 2026) Saudia intends to schedule the 144-seater A321XLR on one of three weekly flights. However, the actual booking page still lists the A320 on this route.
- Jeddah – Geneva (effective September 1, 2026). Four weekly flights. The A321XLR will replace the Airbus A330. AeroRoutes reports the airline intends to increase service to seven weekly flights, though additional flights are not yet available for reservations.
- Riyadh – Geneva (effective September 2, 2026). Three weekly flights. The A321XLR will replace the airline’s Airbus A330 on this route. Saudia intends to increase service from three to four flights per week, though the additional flight is not yet available for reservations.
- Jeddah – Mauritius (effective October 25, 2026). Three flights weekly. The A321XLR will replace the airline’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on this route.
- Jeddah – Barcelona (effective October 27, 2026). Three weekly flights. The A321XLR will replace the Boeing 787-9/-10 Dreamliner on this route.
The aircraft is also scheduled to operate on select Riyadh–Jeddah flights from July 2026.
The A321XLR has redefined the narrowbody passenger experience
As with other A321XLR operators, the aircraft’s introduction to Saudia’s fleet will blend narrowbody economics with the premium comfort typically associated with widebody intercontinental aircraft. Its range of approximately 4,700 nautical miles, which enables nonstop flights across Europe, Africa, and the Indian Ocean region, also requires more passenger comfort options than a single-class configuration can provide.
Fully flat seats with direct aisle access—previously rare on single-aisle aircraft—are now part of a broader industry trend with the introduction of the A321XLR. The aircraft’s long-range application requires a two- or three-class cabin that more closely mirrors the passenger experience of a widebody aircraft.
Saudia’s premium product and comfortable economy-class offering will appeal to both leisure and corporate travellers, while creating new point-to-point market opportunities for the airline.
Featured Image: REC and ROLL | stock.adobe.com
