After Etihad and at the same time as MEA (Lebanon), Saudia is preparing to receive its first Airbus A321XLRs, the long-haul version of the Airbus A321, in 2026. The aircraft can fly non-stop over a distance of around 8,700 km. This advance will enable the Saudi national carrier to introduce a business class cabin with lie-flat seats on board its future Airbus A321XLRs.
The aircraft, which is expected to have a 144-seat configuration, will incorporate horizontal 100% sleeper seats, a product normally reserved for wide-body aircraft. According to experts, the cabin will feature 24 Thompson VantageSOLO seats, all with direct aisle access.
The first deliveries of Saudia's A321XLRs are now expected in the spring of 2026, after several months of delays affecting the entire Airbus A321XLR programme. First flights are envisaged from May 2026. The arrival of the A321XLR in the fleet will enable Saudia to serve "secondary" cities or to increase the density of existing routes.
While the airline has not yet decided on its future A321XLR network, it has put forward several ideas for routes. These include cities such as Barcelona, Brussels, Milan and Rome. In West Africa, Dakar appears to be a strategic destination, while Malé in the Maldives seems perfectly positioned to welcome Saudi's new aircraft. The airline points out that it offers flights from its two hubs in Jeddah and Riyadh.
