Wizz Air Announces First A321XLR Route

Wizz Air is gearing up for the launch of Airbus A321XLR flights by announcing the first route the new narrowbody aircraft will feature on.

The budget European carrier says flights between Milan and Abu Dhabi will be operated with the A321XLR from June 2, 2025, allowing the airline to flex the type’s capabilities.

The A321XLR burst onto the scene in 2019 with an announcement that would see hundreds of orders within the first week for the new endeavour from Airbus.

The A321XLR’s range capabilities have made it so attractive. In terms of distance flown, this type can take the place of some widebodies.

Wizz Air believes that the A321XLR’s arrival aligns with the carrier’s ambitions to expand its reach, specifically focusing on Italy. It follows Lufthansa Group’s investment in ITA Airways to try and grow its market share in the country as well.

The low-cost carrier believes the XLR is optimally positioned to enhance flying across 7—to 8-hour missions, which will mean new markets will be within reach without the need for widebodies.

Furthermore, Wizz Air is committed to unlocking affordable airfares for its customers, allowing them to visit key locations across its network more easily.

47 A321XLR jets are on order, with the expectation that the first batch of 8 will arrive momentarily and allow for a rapid introduction across new and existing markets.

The first A321XLR getting the all-clear to be delivered follows the jet getting its relevant certification around a year later than initially expected.

The delayed certification came after concerns were raised about the positioning of the additional fuel tanks and a possible fire risk.

As a result, regulators and Airbus had to work through difficulties, and possible range reductions were discussed. A prospective fix would have been reinforcing the area surrounding the tank.