September 11th 2024.
Wizz Air, the popular budget airline, has exciting news for travelers from Gatwick Airport. They have just announced a new long-haul route to Saudi Arabia, with tickets starting at an affordable £134.99. This new route will cover a distance of almost 3,000 miles and will be serviced by their new fleet of Airbus A321XLR jets.
Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport, will be the first to receive the extra long-haul jet from Wizz Air's order of 47 planes from the manufacturer. The new route from West Sussex to the Saudi city of Jeddah is set to launch in March 2025. Wizz Air's UK bases are currently at Gatwick and Luton airports.
The CEO of Wizz Air, Jozsef Varadi, is thrilled about the new route and the A321XLR aircraft. He describes it as the most cost-efficient aircraft in its class and believes it was a strategic decision to base their first long-haul plane at Gatwick. The flight from London to Jeddah will take approximately seven hours, making it their longest UK route.
The A321XLR has many advantages, including enhanced fuel capacity and the ability to burn 30% less fuel per seat than the previous model. Wizz Air has also announced a new route from Milan to Abu Dhabi using these new planes. The A321XLR boasts a flight capacity of up to eight hours, compared to six hours on the previous model, and has 239 seats.
The Gatwick to Jeddah route will offer single tickets starting at just £134.99. The flight will take place overnight on the outbound route and although the seats are non-reclinable, Varadi assures they are ergonomic and provide a sense of space. This announcement comes at a time when Gatwick has been experiencing disruptions, causing some to call for the head of air traffic control to step down.
Despite these challenges, Wizz Air remains determined to provide affordable and efficient flights for their customers. They have been named the worst UK airline for delays for the third year in a row, but they are making significant improvements and working towards addressing these issues. However, the airline declined to reveal the cost of their new long-haul planes, which is estimated to be around £98.9 million.
In comparison, British Airways has also announced flights to Jeddah from their base at Heathrow Airport, set to launch in November. When asked about the pricing of their tickets, Varadi simply stated that British Airways decides on their own pricing, and Wizz Air does the same. However, he did mention that Wizz Air's cost is a third of British Airways' cost. British Airways currently has 299 planes and employs around 35,000 staff, while Wizz Air has 223 aircraft and approximately 8,200 employees. British Airways flies to 80 countries, while Wizz Air covers destinations in 54 countries.
Despite the challenges faced by the airline industry, Wizz Air remains focused on providing affordable and efficient flights for their customers. With their new long-haul route and fleet of A321XLR jets, they continue to expand their offerings and provide more opportunities for travelers.
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