Photo: Airbus
Qantas Airways has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR, making it the Asia-Pacific launch operator for the long-range single-aisle aircraft. The aircraft was handed over at Airbus’ facility in Finkenwerder, Hamburg, and is being ferried to Sydney with a...
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Qantas Airways has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR, making it the Asia-Pacific launch operator for the long-range single-aisle aircraft. The aircraft was handed over at Airbus’ facility in Finkenwerder, Hamburg, and is being ferried to Sydney with a single stop in Bangkok, demonstrating its extended range capabilities.
The A321XLR is fitted with Pratt & Whitney GTF engines and configured in a two-class layout, with 20 seats in Business Class and 177 in Economy. Qantas plans to deploy the aircraft initially on domestic routes, with the possibility of using it on regional international services in the future.
This delivery is part of a broader fleet renewal programme within the Qantas Group, which includes 40 A321XLRs—28 for Qantas and 12 for its low-cost subsidiary Jetstar. These aircraft form part of the group’s outstanding orders with Airbus, which also include 128 A320neo-family aircraft and 24 A350-1000s.
The A321XLR is designed to offer longer range and higher payload compared to earlier single-aisle models, with a maximum range of up to 4,700 nautical miles. According to Airbus, it delivers up to 30% lower fuel burn and emissions compared to previous-generation single-aisle aircraft.
The aircraft is certified to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), and Airbus has stated its intention for its aircraft to be capable of flying with 100% SAF by 2030. Airbus has received more than 500 orders for the A321XLR to date.
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