No power outlets, no wi-fi and no IFE. However, for less than €100 you can fly Wizz Air's A321xlr from Milan to Abu Dhabi

Yesterday, Wizz Air made it official that its first A321xlr, That is, the variant of the A321 capable of flying intercontinental distances fully loaded, Will debut in Italy next June to connect Milan Malpensa on a daily basis with Abu Dhabi.

A321xlr Vs A321neo

The difference between the two models is not visible to the naked eye, Wizz already flies from Italy to many destinations with the latest version of the A321. The passenger boarding an A321xlr might not even notice the difference since the planes sar will be set up in exactly the same mirrored manner: 239 seats and with the same optional extras: courtesy light, seat that does not recline, air vents and window (only for rows A and F).

The difference is in the guts of this plane and the extra fuel tank that will allow these planes to fly much farther. For example. Iberia, which will be the launch customer of this model destined to revolutionize the long-haul market. There is an extra tank in the belly of the plane that allows the A321xlr (eXtra Long Range) to fly, nonstop for more than 8700 km. 

From June, passengers will be able to fly from Milan to Abu Dhabi, just as it is already possible to fly from Rome to the UAE capital at a very aggressive price of less than €100.

Being configured like everything else in the fleet passengers on this A321xlr, however, will have to take into account that during the approximately 6-hour flight, you will not have the ability to charge a device (if not by bringing a battery pack from home), there will be no wi-fi on-board nor entertainment system or shipboard portal.

One will therefore have to bring from home the necessities to survive during this flight which Emirates operates daily from Milan with an A380 or on the same route with Etihad, which uses a Boeing 7878 outfitted with traditional business class and economy.

New Milan Abu Dhabi flight: prices and schedule

Wizz Air has announced a very aggressive price for the flight from Milan: from €99, a figure that is also found for the return flight quite easily. The schedules are not great, however, since the flight from Milan leaves at 10 a.m. and arrives in Emirates at 7 p.m., which is not a perfect time for those who want to continue on the W4 network. While the departure from Zayed International is scheduled for 8 p.m. local time, with arrival at Malpensa in the middle of the night.

Flying to the Emirates will cost much less thanks to Wizz Air

Competition is the soul of commerce and what is likely to happen will be a lowering of prices along the same lines, as we record today from Fiumicino, with prices on both EY and W4. So passengers will have the choice of traveling with the A321xlr or Etihad's planes at often comparable prices. It will then have to be seen how Emirates will react since Milan with its two daily A380 flights is a real fiefdom of the Dubai-based company.

In conclusion

This year I flew aboard Scoot, on the 787 that the Singapore Airlines-owned airline uses to fly the low-cost philosophy over the long haul. Of course we are talking about a wide-body aircraft, but in this case the carrier's choice was No IFE, but free on-board portal. Wi-fi and power outlets for a fee for those who want them. 

Sure you will be able to fly cheap, but 6 hours in a seat that doesn't recline without the ability to do (almost anything) Is a challenge that only true practitioners of raw-dogging they can afford to do. I for a few more dollars will definitely fly Etihad.

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