Qantas Airways has received its first A321XLR delivery from the Airbus assembly line based in Finkenwerder, Hamburg. The airline is set to become the Asia-Pacific launch operator of the longest range single aisle aircraft, the A321XLR.
A321XLR Capabilities
The A321XLR is a long-range aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines. Qantas’s A321XLR features a two-class layout with 197 seats. Twenty of the aircraft’s seats are in the Business Class and 177 in the main cabin of the aircraft. According to Qantas, the aircraft will initially operate on domestic services across Australia, with the potential to open future new services on secondary routes to Asia.
The aircraft will travel from Hamburg to Sydney with a one crew rest stop in Bangkok. Qantas Group has ordered a total of 40 A321XLRs. These orders are under its fleet modernisation programme, with 28 of the aircraft being allocated to Qantas and 12 to its subsidiary Jetstar. These orders are part of the airline’s outstanding orders with Airbus for 128 single aisle aircraft and 24 A350-1000 wide bodies.
The A321XLR was made to meet airline demands for more range and payload. The aircraft is an evolutionary step of the A320neo family. The aircraft has a range of 4,700 nautical miles, the longest range of any single aisle aircraft. Compared with previous generations the aircraft reduces fuel consumption and carbon emissions by up to 30%, according to Airbus.
There are still increasing demands for the A321XLR as Airbus has secured more than 500 orders for the aircraft type. The aircraft can operate with 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and according to Airbus, they are targeting a 100% compatibility with SAF by 2030.
About Qantas Airways
Founded in Winton, Queensland in 1920, Qantas Airways is Australia’s largest domestic and international airline. Flying to 60 domestic destinations across Australia, the airline is owned by Qantas Group. It is one of the oldest airlines in the world still in operation. Qantas is one of the few airlines to have operated charter flights to all seven continents, and is the largest airline by fleet size, international flights, and international destinations in Australia and Oceania. Formerly known as Qantas Airways Limited, and its nickname, “The Flying Kangaroo” due to the Kangaroo illustration on its tail, the airline operates flights to Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. The airline is based in Sydney and is also known as the Spirit of Australia. It has several subsidiaries, one of which is Jetstar. The name Qantas comes from the airlines original name, Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services.
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