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Qantas’ A321XLR fleet is set to go international, with their first overseas route being Brisbane to Manila in October.
The next-generation jets, which boast a longer range than the 737-800s they are replacing, are already serving Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, and will commence on Brisbane-Perth services in May.
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Brisbane-Manila is currently served five times per week by Qantas’ A330 fleet, with the A321XLR services to increase this to a daily schedule from 25 October.
“We’ve seen an acceleration in deliveries for Qantas with six new aircraft arriving in the half and our first A321XLRs entering service in September,” said Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson in her half-yearly results speech.
“Our fourth XLR arrived in Australia this week and we have today scheduled the first international route with this aircraft type, from Brisbane to Manila, which shows the long-range capability of these aircraft.
“A further 30 new Qantas aircraft will arrive over the next 18 months. In my three decades working here, I can’t remember this level of aircraft deliveries in such a short space of time.”
Brisbane Airport has welcomed the announcement, with Ryan Both, its executive general manager for aviation, saying the quieter aircraft will help address noise concerns.
“We’re thrilled 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 delivers greater fuel efficiency and is significantly quieter, which is great news for both travellers and our local communities impacted by aircraft noise. This is exactly the kind of modern, quieter aviation future we want to see taking off from Brisbane.”
While Brisbane-Manila will initially be served by domestic-style A321XLRs, the airline has ordered 16 that will be laid out with internationally-configured lie-flat business seats and seat-back entertainment systems.
These will be earmarked for short- and medium-haul international services as well as transcontinental flights to Perth, and are expected to arrive starting in the 2028 calendar year.
According to Hudson, the on-board amenities – including the lie-flat seats, seat-back screens, and free wi-fi – will “provide a consistent premium experience for our customers who fly domestically with Qantas and connect onto our long-haul services”.
“All of the next generation aircraft joining our fleet benefit from longer range, more comfort, less noise, better economics and will improve how people travel around Australia and overseas,” she said last year.
“It also means we’re recruiting and training more pilots, cabin crew and engineers, creating opportunities for our people.”
VH-OGD, Qantas’ fourth A321XLR, is the first to be fitted with four lavatories, with Qantas’ previous A321XLRs having only three.
The extra toilet replaces a row of three economy seats, bringing total seat count down from 200 to 197, making one economy toilet per 59 passengers as opposed to one per 90. Qantas’ first three A321XLRs – VH-OGA, VH-OGB, and VH-OGC – will be retrofitted to add the fourth lavatory.
The Flying Kangaroo is also looking to retrofit some of its newer Boeing 737-800 planes to bring the cabin experience in line with the A321XLR.
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