Qantas’ A321XLR fleet will go international, with its first overseas route from Brisbane to Manila in October.
The next-generation aircraft, which have a longer range than the 737-800s they are replacing, are already serving Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, and will begin Brisbane-Perth services in May.
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Qantas’ A330 fleet currently services Brisbane-Manila five times a week, and A321XLR services will increase this schedule to a daily schedule from 25 October.
“We have seen an acceleration in deliveries for Qantas with six new aircraft arriving in the half year and our first A321XLRs entering service in September,” Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said in her half-year results speech.
“Our fourth XLR arrived in Australia this week and today we have scheduled the first international route with this type of aircraft, from Brisbane to Manila, demonstrating the long-range capabilities of these aircraft.
“A further 30 new Qantas aircraft will arrive over the next 18 months. In my three decades working here, I cannot remember this level of aircraft deliveries in such a short space of time.”
Brisbane Airport welcomed the announcement and Ryan Both, its executive general manager of aviation, said the quieter aircraft will help address noise issues.
“We are delighted that Qantas has chosen Brisbane Airport to launch its first international A321XLR service between Brisbane and Manila later this year, as well as domestically to Perth,” he said.
“The aircraft’s next-generation technology offers greater fuel efficiency and is significantly quieter, which is great news for both travelers and our local communities affected by aircraft noise. This is exactly the kind of future of modern, quieter aviation we want to see take off from Brisbane.”
While Brisbane-Manila will initially feature domestic-style A321XLR aircraft, the airline has ordered 16 that will be equipped with reclining business seats and seatback entertainment systems in international configuration.
These will be intended for short and medium-haul international services, as well as transcontinental flights to Perth, and are expected to arrive from calendar year 2028.
According to Hudson, the onboard amenities, including reclining seats, seat-back screens and free Wi-Fi, “will provide a consistent premium experience for our customers who fly domestically with Qantas and connect to our long-haul services.”
“All next-generation aircraft joining our fleet will benefit from greater range, more comfort, less noise, better economy and improve the way people travel around Australia and overseas,” he said last year.
“It also means we are recruiting and training more pilots, cabin crew and engineers, creating opportunities for our people.”
VH-OGD, Qantas’ fourth A321XLR, is the first to be equipped with four lavatories, while previous Qantas A321XLRs only had three.
The additional toilet replaces a row of three economy seats, reducing the total number of seats from 200 to 197, making there one economy toilet for every 59 passengers instead of one for every 90. Qantas’ first three A321XLRs (VH-OGA, VH-OGB and VH-OGC) will be retrofitted to add a fourth toilet.
Flying Kangaroo is also looking to modernize some of its newer Boeing 737-800 aircraft to align the cabin experience with that of the A321XLR.
