Qantas Airways has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR, targeting direct flights from the Airbus plant in Finkenwerder, Hamburg, to Sydney, with a single technical stopover in Bangkok.
The Airbus A321XLR model for longer routes
The arrival of the A321XLR marks a strategic shift for Qantas. For the first time, it integrates a single-aisle aircraft with the ability to cover routes of up to 4,700 nautical miles. Such flexibility allows the airline to operate high-demand domestic routes and, in the future, to explore new connections to secondary destinations in Asia.
This transport is equipped with Pratt & Whitney GTF engines and has a two-class configuration: 20 seats in business class and 177 in the main cabin. Qantas Group has ordered a total of 40 aircraft of this model, of which 28 will be assigned to Qantas and the remaining 12 to its low-cost subsidiary, Jetstar.
The Airbus A321XLR joins the A320neo family and offers notable advantages in efficiency and range, with 30% savings in fuel consumption and emissions compared to previous generations of competing aircraft. In addition, the model is certified to operate on up to 50% sustainable fuel(SAF), with a view to reaching 100% by 2030.
Qantas’ decision to introduce this aircraft responds to both the need to minimize environmental impact and the pursuit of new business opportunities in regional markets. As the launch operator in Asia-Pacific, the airline strengthens its leadership in operational innovation in the region.
With this addition, Airbus adds more than 500 A321XLR orders, consolidating its presence in the long-range single-aisle segment. For Qantas, this move represents a firm step towards a more versatile, efficient and future-oriented fleet.
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Source and photo: Airbus
