Wizz Air Abu Dhabi to Receive A321XLRs in 2026

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi is set to expand its fleet with the addition of its first Airbus A321-200NY(XLR) aircraft in 2026, primarily to serve routes between Abu Dhabi International and destinations in Western Europe. This development was confirmed by Wizz Air Holdings CEO József Váradi in an interview with The National, a UAE-based newspaper.

The low-cost airline has chosen to wait for Pratt & Whitney to deliver upgraded GTF Advantage engines, which are expected to be available by late 2025. These engines are better suited for Abu Dhabi’s hot and challenging environment, ensuring more resilience compared to operations in milder climates like Europe.

“We want to make sure that we have a resilient engine for operating the aircraft here in Abu Dhabi,” Váradi explained, highlighting the significance of the upgraded engines for reliable operations in the region.

The introduction of the A321XLR will extend Wizz Air Abu Dhabi’s flight range to approximately eight hours, a two-hour increase over the current A321-200NX model. This extended range will allow the airline to expand its network, connecting Abu Dhabi to further destinations in Western Europe. Váradi remains optimistic that with the right pricing strategy, passengers will opt for long-haul travel aboard the airline’s all-economy, high-density aircraft.

The A321XLR is part of a broader expansion strategy for the Wizz Air group, which has 47 firm orders for the aircraft. The first of these deliveries is expected in the first quarter of 2025, with eight additional aircraft arriving throughout the year. Initially, Wizz Air UK will deploy the A321XLR on its new London Gatwick to Jeddah route starting on March 31, 2025. Following that, Wizz Air Malta will use the aircraft on the Milan Malpensa to Abu Dhabi route from June 2, 2025.

Wizz Air plans to target three key markets with the new A321XLR: routes between London and the Gulf, connections between Abu Dhabi and Western Europe, and flights from Central Europe to India.

Currently, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi operates a fleet of eight A321-200s and four A321-200NXs. The addition of the A321XLR will significantly enhance the airline’s ability to serve long-haul routes while maintaining its low-cost business model.

With the A321XLR, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi aims to solidify its position in the competitive long-haul market, offering affordable flights to popular destinations while meeting the demands of passengers seeking direct connections from Abu Dhabi to Western Europe.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com