Wizz Air has announced that they will base their first ever Airbus A321XLR at London Gatwick, with direct service to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
On Tuesday (September 10, 2024), Wizz Air announced that they will base their very first Airbus A321XLR (Extra Long Range) aircraft at London Gatwick Airport (LGW). With the added aircraft, Wizz Air will launch new direct daily service between Gatwick and Jeddah from March 31, 2025. The extended range and efficiency of the A321XLR will enable the carrier to offer nonstop service to distant destinations at substantially lower fares. One-way fares between London Gatwick and Jeddah are now available for booking from £134.99 (T&Cs apply).
In Tuesday’s announcement, Wizz Air's Chief Executive Officer, József Váradi, 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.”
Also commenting on the new based A321XLR, London Gatwick’s CEO, Stewart Wingate, added,
“We’re delighted that Wizz Air has decided to operate its first A321XLR based in the UK from 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.”
The new Gatwick-Jeddah route has a flight time of approximately seven hours, and will leverage the extended range and efficiency of the A321XLR. Currently, Wizz air has five Airbus A321neos based at London Gatwick, and operates flights to 26 destinations in 17 countries, and employs a staff at 259 team members at LGW. As previously announced, Wizz will base another new Airbus A321XLR in Italy, which will be deployed daily on a new route between Milan Malpensa and Abu Dhabi from June 2, 2025.
Source: Wizz Air
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