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Marion Geoffroy, Managing Director UK at Wizz Air, expects the introduction of Airbus A321XLR aircraft into the airline’s fleet to significantly reduce the cost of air travel between the UK and the Middle East.

The Airbus A321XLR, equipped with advanced fuel capacity, has a maximum range of up to 11 hours. It also reduces fuel consumption by up to 30% per seat compared to previous models, Airbus says.

Wizz Air UK currently has 47 Airbus A321XLR aircraft on order, with deliveries expected to begin in February 2025. The airline expects flight prices to drop to a quarter of current levels once the new aircraft enter service.

The introduction of the A321XLR could allow Wizz Air UK to launch new routes between the UK and countries in the Middle East. If this happens, Wizz Air UK could become a competitor to Emirates and Etihad. These airlines currently fly between the UK and airports in the Middle East that Wizz Air is considering targeting.

“We will be looking at connecting the UK with the Gulf Cooperation Council region, the Middle East, where we already have a strong brand and where we have a sister airline, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi. This is a very important region for us,” Marion Geoffroy told the PA news agency on July 20, 2024.

“From the UK that would be a potential network that we could explore because it makes a lot of sense to connect places where we have a brand, where we have a presence and where we have customers,” Geoffroy concluded.