What happened
Saudia has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR (registration HZ-ASBA), marking the debut of its new premium narrow-body product. The aircraft features a configuration of 144 seats total: 24 VantageSOLO business class suites and 120 economy seats. The business class product offers fully flat beds with direct aisle access, comparable to JetBlue's Mint but with customized finishes. The airline plans to deploy these aircraft on routes across Europe (including Barcelona, Brussels, Milan, Rome), Africa (Dakar), and the Indian subcontinent (Maldives). Service is expected to begin in early June 2026, with initial routes already on sale