Flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudia, has released its initial plans for the Airbus A321XLR introduced into regular services. This will see the 144-seater aircraft offer a range of medium-haul routes from Jeddah and Riyadh. These aircraft are configured in a 1-1 business class configuration, including lie-flat seats.
As published by Aeroroutes, Saudia will introduce the aircraft on routes to Barcelona, Geneva, Madrid, Male, Mauritius, Vienna, Athens, and Moscow, starting on select routes from May.
15 A321XLR On Order
Unlike the Airbus A321neo (pictured), Saudia has 15 of hte Airbus A321XLR long-range capable aircraft on order. These are expected to arrive soon at the Saudi airline. These will gradually be introduced to take over some widebody operations from theairlines’s hubs at Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED), and Riyadh King Khalid International Airport (RUH). When the final introduction of Riyadh Air services is established, it is expected to see Saudia back away from international operations at RUH entirely.
The first route that will see the A321XLR operate is a thrice weekly services from Jeddah to Vienna (VIE). This route will replace the current Airbus A320 and will commence services from May 23, 2026. This will increase to a four-weekly service across the Northern Hemisphere summer season between June 21 and September 5.
In total, nine routes will see the A321XLR introduced between May and October 2026, and will substitute for other narrow-body and wide-body Saudia aircraft currently in operation on these routes.
1-1 Business Class Configuration
The Airbus A321XLR can seat up to 144 passengers across two classes, including 24 business class seats, and 120 in economy. Saudia has kept relatively coy on its onboard experience expected for the A321XLR, but what we do know is that the upcoming airplanes will include the Thompson VantageSOLO product, which offers fully flat seats and direct aisle access in a 1-1 configuration.
As already mentioned, Vienna will feature first with its thrice-weekly A321XLR service, which will be closely followed by Jeddah to Male Velana International Airport (MLE) in the Maldives. The services to Male will commence from July 1, and replace the current 787-9 and 787-10 operating the service. The airline will increase this service from twice weekly to three times a week.
Next up is Riyadh to 
Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport , which will see the A321XLR replace the current Airbus A320 from July 3. This service frequency will increase from three to four weekly from September 10 next year. Jeddah to the Spanish capital of 
Madrid Barajas Airport will commence from August 1, with the A321XLR replacing the current 787-9/1 aircraft. This will also see anincreasee of service frequencies from four to six weekly.
Riyadh to Athens will have the A321XLR scheduled on one of the current three weekly services, with the aircraft working alongside the current Airbus A320, which will remain in operation. It is currently only expected tooperatee this route from August 5 to August 26.
Full List Of Routes
In addition to the above, Saudia will introduce this state-of-the-art aircraft on its route between Jeddah and Riyadh to Geneva Airport (GVA). Replacing the Airbus A330 operating the route, SV will initially introduce the aircraft four times weekly from Jeddah to Geneva from September 1 (this is expected to increase to daily). Followed the next day by Riyadh to Geneva on September 2, three times weekly, with intentions to add a fourth weekly service when capacity allows.
Next up will be Jeddah to Barcelona, with the aircraft replacing the current Boeing 787-9 and 10 Dreamliners. The route will be operated thrice weekly and launch on October 27. Lastly, Jeddah to Mauritius, with the A321XLR replacing the current Boeing 787-9, with an intended thrice weekly service from October 25.
Saudia had expected to introduce the A321XLR by 2024; however, due to ongoing delivery delays is now expected in the first half of 2026, and the airline is wasting no time in publishing its expected schedule for the aircraft. Some of the flights noted above are already available for booking; not all booking systems may yet be updated, and select capacity increases are also not available for reservation.
