Wizz Air is set to revolutionise budget travel from the UK by launching the nation’s first low-cost flights to Saudi Arabia. From March 31 next year, the airline will commence operations between Gatwick Airport in West Sussex and Jeddah, utilising the state-of-the-art Airbus A321XLR aircraft.

Wizz Air is taking on 47 of these advanced planes, with Gatwick being the base for the inaugural one. The Airbus A321XLR stands out for its massive fuel tanks, enabling it to fly non-stop for up to an impressive 11 hours, while also being more environmentally friendly, cutting fuel use by almost 30% per passenger compared to previous models, according to Airbus.

At a press briefing, Wizz Air’s CEO Jozsef Varadi said: “The Airbus A321XLR is the most cost-efficient aircraft in its class. The [A321XLR is the] same aircraft essentially as the A321neo with 239 seats.

“The only difference is there is an extra fuel tank, which in simple terms means the aircraft is expected to be able to fly up to eight hours. The current aircraft can only fly up to six hours. It is first XLR in the United Kingdom and the first to be delivered to a company. We are expecting this aircraft to be delivered by Airbus in February.”

One potential drawback for travellers eager to visit the Middle Eastern kingdom is that despite being a medium haul flight, the aircraft do not feature reclining seats, making it potentially challenging to get some sleep. The routes will commence from £134.99 and the inaugural flight is scheduled for 31 March, 2025, with daily flights thereafter, reports the Mirror.

This will be Wizz Air’s longest flight yet, clocking in at approximately seven hours to Jeddah and over seven hours on the return journey to the UK. During the press conference, Mr Varadi stated that Wizz Air has no interest in long haul or transatlantic flights.

Last week, the Milan to Abu Dhabi route was the first to be announced that will utilise the XLR, but the Jeddah route will be the first to operate using this aircraft.

Saudi Tourism has been transparent about its efforts to boost tourist numbers to the country. Just last week, it launched a new campaign titled ‘This Land is Calling’, which encourages international tourists to discover Saudi’s legends and wonders.

Tourism is central to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s vision to transform the nation by 2030, aiming for 150 million visitors by that year. The ruling monarch envisions tourism becoming the second-largest contributor to the economy after oil, accounting for 10% of GDP.

However, not everyone may be keen to visit Saudi Arabia, given its notorious reputation for executing people and its shocking treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals.

With an eye on stretching its flight map even further, Mr Varadi added, “Its enhanced range capability allows Wizz Air to connect the farthest destinations in its network, while also providing opportunities for further expansion, connecting more cultures, economies and continents. We are excited to offer unbeatable fares to our customers on the new route from London Gatwick to Jeddah.”

Reflecting on the company’s strategy since establishing at Gatwick in 2020, he noted: “Since establishing our base at London Gatwick in 2020, we have demonstrated ambitious growth, making it a natural, strategic decision to operate our first Airbus A321XLR from this airport.”

Stewart Wingate, also speaking at the press conference, told reporters: “Today’s news is very exciting for us, it is Wizz Airs’ first XLR deployment but it is also ours and we are delighted to have it at Gatwick. WizzAir are playing a really major part in our success”