The Qantas Group recently unveiled the future of the Qantas fleet with their most recent order from both of the manufacturing giants, Airbus and Boeing. The deal will have the Australian flag carrier taking delivery of 24 additional aircraft, 12 Airbus A350s and 12 Boeing 787s. The latest press release also included the plan for the carrier’s international widebody fleet. 

The firm orders will allow flexibility for the carrier and will complement orders previously on the book. Both aircraft types will be brought in to replace the carrier’s 25 aging Airbus A330 aircraft, the oldest of which was delivered in 2003, according to airfleets.com.

The average age for the fleet will be 21 when replacement deliveries begin, with some of the younger aircraft to receive cabin refurbishment in 2025. In addition to the firm order, the carrier has also negotiated purchasing options with both manufacturers to provide the airline flexibility in finalizing a replacement for the A380 fleet from 2032 and beyond. 

Boeing 

Qantas will take delivery of additional 787s per this recent order announcement. The order has been divided into four 787-9 and eight 787-10 aircraft. Deliveries for the additional 787s will begin in 2027 and will complement the current Boeing fleet the carrier operates. 

Airbus

The Sydney-based carrier also put in a firm order for 12 Airbus A350-1000s. These aircraft will be delivered to Qantas beginning in 2028, a year after the most recent 787s that were purchased are set to be delivered. The A350s that were announced in this order are not the same examples as those which will be used for Project Sunrise, connecting Sydney and Australia with direct flights to London and New York. The A350s, used for the project, will be ULR variants with deliveries beginning in 2026. 

Alan Joyce, Qantas Group CEO, in regards to the impact the orders will have on the company in the future, said, “These are generational decisions for this company. The aircraft will arrive over a decade or more and they’ll be part of the fleet for 20 years. They’ll unlock new routes and better travel experiences for customers, and new jobs and promotions for our people.”

Airline’s Sustainability 

Qantas is continuing the company’s pledge to net carbon zero by 2050 in the order agreement as well. The flag carrier secured access to 500 million liters, just over 132 million gallons, of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) per year beginning in 2028 as a part of the deal. 

Across other portions of the airline’s fleet, the airline will begin receiving deliveries of their much anticipated Airbus A220s this year. In addition, 22 Embraer E190 jets will join the fleet by December of this year as well.

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Zach Cooke

Zach’s love for aviation began when he was in elementary school with a flight sim and model planes. This passion for being in the air only intensified throughout high school when he earned his Private Pilot Certificate. He then attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, earning his certificates and ratings to later flight instruct and share his passion for aviation with others. He now resides in the North East living out his dream as an airline pilot.

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