Saudia's A321XLR Expansion: A Deep Dive into New Routes and Schedules
Saudia has recently unveiled an exciting expansion of its Airbus A321XLR fleet, introducing a new route to Paris during the Northern summer of 2026. This update, as of February 1, 2026, showcases the airline's commitment to enhancing its long-haul network. Here's a breakdown of the new schedules and some interesting insights.
Jeddah's Global Reach
Saudia's A321XLR, configured in a 24-seat business class and 120-seat economy class setup, is set to make a splash in several key cities. Here's a glimpse of what's in store:
- Jeddah to Geneva: Starting September 1, 2026, with 4 weekly flights, increasing to 7 weekly from September 2, 2026.
- Jeddah to Madrid: August 1, 2026, marks the beginning of 4 weekly flights, reducing to 6 weekly from August 3, 2026.
- Jeddah to Male: 3 weekly flights from July 1, 2026.
- Jeddah to Paris Charles de Gaulle: A highly anticipated addition, starting June 15, 2026, with 3 weekly flights (SV131/130).
- Jeddah to Riyadh: Various flight frequencies throughout July 2026.
- Jeddah to Vienna: June 2, 2026, sees the launch of 3 weekly flights, increasing to 4 weekly from June 21 to September 5, 2026.
Riyadh's International Connections
Riyadh's A321XLR operations are equally impressive:
- Riyadh to Athens: A weekly flight from August 5 to 26, 2026.
- Riyadh to Geneva: Starting September 2, 2026, with 3 weekly flights, increasing to 4 weekly from September 6, 2026.
- Riyadh to Moscow Sheremetyevo: July 2, 2026, marks the beginning of 5 weekly flights, reducing to 4 weekly from September 8, 2026.
A321XLR's Barcelona and Mauritius Routes
Saudia's A321XLR fleet is also set to operate the Jeddah to Barcelona route from October 27, 2026. Interestingly, the airline previously filed plans for the Jeddah to Mauritius route starting June 15, 2026, but these have been put on hold as the carrier maintains its 787-9/-10 aircraft on this route.
AeroRoutes' Expertise
This update comes from AeroRoutes, a trusted source in the aviation industry. Jim Liu, the founder of Airlineroute from 2007 to 2020, now leads AeroRoutes, ensuring a wealth of expertise and a keen eye for detail in every update.
Stay tuned for more exciting developments as Saudia continues to expand its global footprint with the A321XLR.
