LONDON – The first Qantas Airbus A321XLR has entered the final assembly line at the Airbus production facility in Hamburg, Germany. It marks a major milestone in the airlines planes for its fleet renewal as it looking to continue to phase out it’s ageing planes, with a more modern Airbus fleet.
Qantas has the first A321XLR scheduled to be delivered in April 2025, and will be the first of 28 aircraft ordered by the airline on a firm order, however, the airline does have options for more.
The new aircraft type will initially operate on domestic flights currently operated by 737 aircraft. The new aircraft will offer a more comfortable flying experience for customers with wider seats, larger windows, fast, free Wi-Fi and overhead bins that allow for around 60 per cent more bags than the 737.
In a press release talking about the A321XLR entering the final assembly line, Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said: “These new aircraft are part of the biggest domestic fleet renewal program in Qantas’ history, which is bringing significant improvements for customers and career opportunities for our people”
“The A321XLR is a fantastic aircraft, which provides a more comfortable flight for customers and the longer range will in time give us the opportunity to explore more non-stop routes and operate them more efficiently.”
Expansion and Opportunity for Qantas
With these new aircraft and and with the addition of the Airbus A220’s range and layout options, both the A321XLR and the A220 will allow Qantas to look at expanding into new routes and services, allow them to expand their reach and increase market dominance inside the Pacific markets.
The new planes will not only mean a route and fleet renewal/ expansion, but also opens ups the need for more pilots, with the airline saying “we’ll be training more than 240 pilots on the new aircraft over the next three years.” marking the start of a new era in the Austrian aviation industry.
Qanats will be the first airline in the Asia-Pacific market to be able to enjoy and utilise the modern and very well equipped A321XLR planes, with the first flight expected to be in 2025.
The Asian Pacific market is expected to be one of the fastest growing marketing in the world in the next decade, and with these new planes and with additional updated services Qantas has placed its self in a great position to capitalise on the future of the market in the region.
A321XLR Facts
- Qantas’ A321XLR are five metres longer than the outgoing 737s and will seat 197 passengers (20 Business seats and 177 Economy seats) – an increase of 13 per cent in total seat capacity with no reduction in space between seats and a 66 per cent increase in premium seats.
- The first aircraft to arrive, registration VH-OGA, will be called Great Ocean Road.
- The cabin has been designed by David Caon to maximise passenger comfort with no change to seat pitch and a slightly wider seat than the 737.
- It can fly approximately 3,000km further than the 737 (at 8,700km) and opens up a wider range of direct domestic and short haul international routes (e.g. South East Asia, Pacific islands).
- Qantas’ A321XLR will be powered by Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbo Fan engines (PW1100G-JM).
- The A321XLR improves noise levels compared to previous generation aircraft.
- On a per seat basis, the A321XLR is expected to burn less fuel than the previous generation aircraft.
- Qantas employees have been invited to help name the new A321XLR fleet after Australians walks, rivers and roads as a nod to the iconic travel opportunities across Australia and the importance of connecting this vast landscape and beyond.
