- WIZZ AIR IS THE FIRST ULTRA LOW-COST CARRIER TO OPERATE THE AIRBUS A321XLR
- THE DIRECT ROUTE TO JEDDAH IN SAUDI ARABIA STARTS FROM 31 MARCH 2025 AT ONLY £134.99
- THE AIRLINE WILL OFFER MORE, AFFORDABLE DIRECT CONNECTIONS FOR CUSTOMERS, REVOLUTIONISING INTERCONTINENTAL TRAVEL
Wizz Air, the most environmentally sustainable airline globally*, is excited to announce that its first Airbus A321XLR (Extra Long Range) aircraft will join Wizz Air UK’s fleet at its base in London Gatwick.
Wizz Air’s first Airbus A321XLR aircraft will arrive in March 2025, marking a new era of intercontinental travel with the launch of a direct route from London Gatwick to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The strategic move supports Wizz Air’s rapid growth
and will revolutionise the travel experience for passengers travelling from the UK. The extended reach and efficiency of the Airbus A321 XLR will enable the airline to offer direct access to distant destinations at significantly lower fares, connecting
more cultures, people and economies with affordable fares. Tickets are already on sale on wizzair.com and via Wizz Air’s official app from as low as £134.99**.
The new route, lasting nearly 7 hours, will be the first of many to leverage the extended range and efficiency of the Airbus A321XLR. Additionally, another new Wizz Air A321XLR aircraft will be based in Italy, operating a daily flight between Milan Malpensa
and Abu Dhabi, starting from 2 June 2025.
Underpinning Wizz Air’s commitment to more sustainable operations, the Airbus A321XLR’s carbon intensity is estimated to be at least 30% less than that of other carriers on the same routes***.
József Váradi, Wizz Air's Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Airbus A321XLR is the most cost-efficient aircraft in its class. 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. 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.”
The decision to base the Airbus A321XLR in London Gatwick reflects Wizz Air’s commitment to strengthen its UK presence. Since the opening of the airline’s second UK base at London Gatwick in October 2020, Wizz Air has continued to expand its
presence at the airport. The airline has five Airbus A321neo aircraft based at the airport and operates flights to 26 destinations in 17 countries and employs 259 staff.
The close collaboration with the London Gatwick team has been crucial to Wizz Air’s rapid UK growth, with the airline recently celebrating the milestone of welcoming seven million passengers through the airport.
“We’re delighted that Wizz Air has decided to operate its first A321XLR based in the UK from London Gatwick”, said Stewart Wingate, CEO of London Gatwick. “Wizz Air has grown consistently since opening its base here in 2020. This new type of aircraft will allow us to provide a wider range of routes and increase our capacity, offering our passengers even more travel opportunities. The development will play an important role in the further growth in our intercontinental network, as we look to offer more choice for passengers and work towards our vision to be the airport for everyone, whatever your journey.”
Wizz Air is committed to providing its customers with a seamless travel experience. The airline has made significant investments into its operations and customer service, which are both improving year-on-year. As a result of this investment, the airline’s
flight completion rate so far in 2024 sits at 99.5% in the UK, with 100% completion in February and May. On-time performance for flights departing to and from the UK has also increased by 11% to 70%, and flight cancellations have reduced by 28%.
NEW ROUTE
| Route | Frequency | Fares from** | Starts |
|---|
| London Gatwick – Jeddah | Daily | £134.99 | 31 March 2025 |
With ambitious growth targets in mind, having a 500-plane fleet by 2030, Wizz Air continues to hire both first officers and captains to its ever-widening network in Europe and beyond. Those interested, can apply here: Pilot Jobs & Pilot Academy | Wizz Air
*According to the CAPA benchmarking – Centre for Aviation Awards for Excellence 2022-2023
**One-way price, including taxes, administration and other non-optional charges. One carry-on bag (max: 40x30x20cm) is included. Trolley bag and each piece of checked-in baggage is subject to additional fees. The price applies only to bookings made on
wizzair.com and the WIZZ mobile app.
***High-level estimate based on internal Airbus A321XLR performance assessment and Eurocontrol’s SET data
