According to a January 9 briefing witnessed by FlightGlobal, Airbus’ CEO of Commercial Aircraft, Christian Scherer, stated that the delivery of the first Airbus A321XLR with Pratt & Whitney engines for Wizz Air is “imminent.” The briefing also highlighted significant full-year 2024 data.
The announcement coincides with Airbus’s introduction of the A321XLR to its customers. The world’s first A321XLR was delivered to Spanish carrier Iberia in October 2024, followed by Aer Lingus in December 2024.
Wizz Air expects A321XLR deliveries.
Wizz Air has ordered 47 Airbus A321XLRs, with first deliveries scheduled in February or early March 2025. In 2016, the budget airline picked Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM engines for its A321XLR fleet.
IAG-owned Iberia and Aer Lingus have received their first Airbus A321XLR aircraft. Unlike Wizz Air, both airlines’ A321XLRs are powered by CFM International Leap-1A engines.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certified the A321XLR on July 19, 2024. The European authority then permitted commercial operations of the type using only the CFM International Leap-1A engine.
Notably, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also approved the Airbus A321XLR. The FAA certified the type using CFM International LEAP-1A engines, after the EASA’s certification of the A321XLR with the same engine.
The Airbus A321XLR with Pratt & Whitney engines is currently seeking complete certification from EASA and FAA. The FAA has awarded type certification to Pratt & Whitney’s GTF (Geared Turbo Fan) engines, which power the A321XLR, but the aircraft has yet to get final approval from these regulatory agencies.
Wizz’s A321XLR makes its debut flight from London to Jeddah.
The corridor linking London Gatwick International Airport (LGW) in the United Kingdom and Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Saudi Arabia will be Wizz Air’s first Airbus A321XLR route.
The route spans 4,715 kilometers (2,929 miles). Simple Flying claimed in September 2024 that the European low-cost airline will launch the Airbus A321XLR on March 31, 2025. Wizz Air CEO Jozsef Varadi commented on the route’s launch, saying:
“The Airbus A321XLR is the most economical aircraft in its category… We are thrilled to offer our customers great prices on the new route from London Gatwick to Jeddah. Since establishing our base at London Gatwick in 2020, we have shown ambitious expansion, making it a sensible, strategic decision to operate our first Airbus A321XLR from this airport.”
Wizz Air’s second Airbus A321XLR route has also been confirmed. Beginning June 2, 2025, this route will connect two Wizz Air hubs with daily flights between Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) in Italy and Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This trip spans a distance of 4,714 kilometers (2,929 miles).
The Airbus A321XLR has an extra-long range of up to 4,700 nautical miles (7,500 km), 15% greater than the A321LR, and uses 30% less fuel per seat than previous generation competitor aircraft.
In June 2022, the first A321XLR made its maiden flight. So date, more than 500 Airbus A321XLR aircraft have been ordered by various airlines worldwide.
The A321XLR’s enhanced range will allow carriers to fly significantly longer itineraries than were previously possible with widebody aircraft.
The A321XLR, being a narrowbody aircraft, is more fuel efficient and less expensive to operate than bigger widebody aircraft. Thus, low-cost carriers may have a better chance of engaging in the transatlantic market in the future.