Starting from 2025, Wizz Air is planning on connecting the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. Not only will it be the first low-cost airline to offer the connection, but it will also be Wizz Air’s longest route departing from the UK.
Wizz Air will be connecting London’s Gatwick airport with Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia, using its new Airbus A321XLR plane. At the moment, the airline has ordered 47 new aircraft and the first one to arrive will be assuring the new connection.
“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”, Stewart Wingate, CEO of London Gatwick, said.
According to Airbus, the new model should be able to assure a maximum range of 11 hours flying time, burning up to 30% less fuel per seat than previous aircraft. The flights between Gatwick and Jeddah will operate at the end of the afternoon starting from Gatwick and overnight departing from Jeddah, lasting around 6.5 hours. Seats on the new Airbus don’t recline.
“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”, explained Wizz Air CEO Jozsef Varadi.
Flights are scheduled to start on 31 March and will be directly competing with the London Heathrow-Jeddah route by British Airways, scheduled to start on 4 November. According to Wizz Air, its fares should be about a third of those applied by British Airways, starting from 134.99 pounds (160 euros) for a single trip.
