Qantas has unveiled details of the cabins that will be installed on its future Airbus A321XLR fleet. The airline expects to take delivery of its first A321XLR next year.
Qantas A321XLR Cabin Details
The Australian flag carrier’s A321XLRs will feature 197 seats across two cabins. 20 recliner-style Business Class seats will be arranged in a 2-2 configuration.
Business Class seats will feature a six-way adjustable headrest, as well as calf rests and footrests. There will be no built-in seatback entertainment, but personal device streaming entertainment will be available. The seats will have a tablet shelf on each seatback, as well as a built-in tablet holder on the tray table. Three charging options will be available: USB-A, USB-C and a wireless charging pad.
The Economy Class cabin will have 177 seats in a 3-3 configuration. These seats will be similar to those found on Qantas’ Airbus A220 fleet.
Economy Class seats will feature the same streaming entertainment and charging options as Business Class seats, with the exception of wireless charging.
Qantas has noted that the first three A321XLRs to be delivered will have a slightly different configuration, with three extra Economy Class seats and a total of 200 seats. The three additional seats will be replaced by an additional lavatory across the rest of the fleet.
The new aircraft will replace Qantas’ aging Boeing 737-800 fleet. Qantas touts that the A321XLR has a wider cabin and large overhead bins that allow for 60 percent more bags than their 737s. There will also be an increase in seating capacity, as Qantas’ Boeing 737-800s only have 174 seats.
Additional A321XLR Plans: Routes and Possible Lie-Flat Seats
Qantas’ current 737s fly domestically and to destinations in the region such as New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. However, the additional range of the Airbus A321XLR will bring opportunities for other short-haul international routes to places like Southeast Asia and islands in the Pacific Ocean.
Although the A321XLR cabin that Qantas has unveiled is consistent with a short-haul narrowbody product, the airline has also floated the possibility of a sub-fleet with a different cabin. As reported by Executive Traveller, a Qantas executive stated that the airline is considering the option of installing lie-flat seats on a set of A321XLRs that will be focused on international routes.
Qantas expects to take delivery of its first A321XLR in April of 2025. The airline has 28 frames on order, with nearly 100 options across the Airbus A220 and A320neo families.
