Delayed dreams: Wizz Air’s new long-haul jet faces another setback, impacting passengers’ plans
Wizz Air’s rollout of its long-anticipated Airbus A321XLR—the aircraft expected to unlock new, ultra-long-haul routes for the low-cost airline—has hit another unexpected snag. Originally set to begin operations in late March, the aircraft was to serve the London-Gatwick to Jeddah route for Wizz Air UK. However, due to a newly emerged issue in the delivery process, that debut has now been postponed indefinitely.
According to the airline’s confirmation, as reported by AIRportal.hu, no new delivery date has been finalised, creating uncertainty for both the airline’s plans and its passengers. In the meantime, Wizz Air continues operating these long-distance routes using its existing A321neo fleet, albeit with reduced passenger loads to avoid technical stops along the way.
What this means for passengers
For travellers eyeing future long-haul destinations—especially to the Middle East and India—the delay could lead to several inconveniences:
- Longer travel times due to required stopovers for fuel on extended routes.
- Reduced seat availability as current aircraft need to fly with lighter loads.
- Potential changes in route schedules if the airline adjusts operations to accommodate range limitations.
This is particularly relevant for the airline’s planned expansion into South Asia. Wizz Air had announced its intention to launch daily direct flights between Budapest and Mumbai this year—a major development for both tourism and business travel between Hungary and India. That route, however, depends heavily on the A321XLR’s extended range.
India flights in question
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó confirmed in March that all necessary diplomatic and regulatory agreements had been secured for the Budapest–Mumbai route. Wizz Air also confirmed ongoing discussions with Indian aviation authorities and emphasised that the new route would rely on the XLR aircraft to meet the distance requirements.
The A321XLR, equipped with Pratt & Whitney GTF engines and configured with 239 seats, is designed specifically for such long-haul, point-to-point flights on narrow-body aircraft. Wizz Air has placed orders for 47 of these jets, and after initial operations from London and Milan, they were set to support direct flights connecting Budapest with destinations like Mumbai and potentially New Delhi.
But without the aircraft in service, these plans may be delayed or reshaped, leaving passengers in limbo.
A wider impact
Beyond just Mumbai, the delayed aircraft affects Wizz Air’s broader long-haul strategy. From its Malta and UK subsidiaries, the airline planned to link European cities with destinations in the Middle East and Asia using the fuel-efficient, long-range A321XLRs. The repeated setbacks are not only operational headaches for the company but also limit travel options for passengers looking for low-cost, direct flights across continents.
For now, Wizz Air passengers will need to keep a close eye on their itineraries—and possibly prepare for layovers instead of the direct journeys they were hoping for.
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