Some links to products and partners on this website will earn an affiliate commission.

While KLM has just received its brand-new Airbus A321neo, Wizz Air is already moving on to the A321XLR. This Extra Long Range aircraft has an impressive range of 8,700 km, allowing it to reach a vast range destinations. The first route that Wizz Air will operate with the A321XLR has already been announced: the connection between Milan Malpensa and Abu Dhabi.

Wizz Air introduces the A321XLR

It has been known for a while that Wizz Air would fly the Airbus A321XLR. The low-cost carrier has ordered nearly 50 of these aircraft. The first eight are set to become operational next year, taking their first flights in June 2025. The aircraft will operate non-stop between Milan Malpensa (MXP) in Italy and Abu Dhabi (AUH) in the United Arab Emirates.

The flight schedule is as follows: Flight W47-060 departs from Milan at 10:25 AM and arrives in Abu Dhabi at 7:00 PM (local time). The return flight, W47-059, departs from Abu Dhabi at 8:00 PM (local time) and arrives in Milan the next day at 1:20 AM. The flight duration is expected to be around 7 hours. Etihad also operates this route up to twice a day. However, their Boeing 787 Dreamliner completes the journey in just under 6 hours.

Tickets are already available starting at €99 per person for a one-way trip. Bookings can be made through Wizz Air’s website or other online booking platforms. This fare includes one small piece of hand luggage (40x30x20 cm).

Longer flights

Wizz Air currently offers medium-haul flights of 5-6 hours. With the XLR, the low-cost carrier can now offer flights of 7-8 hours, which potentially significantly expands its network. However, Wizz Air is known for providing a rather stripped-down service, with additional fees for nearly everything.

By keeping ticket prices low, the airline aims to compete with other carriers primarily on price – but whether you want to spend longer on a WIzz Air flight is a rather different question…

Photo credits: Wizz Air & InsideFlyer