Qantas has ordered 20 more Airbus A321XLR aircraft as part of its ongoing fleet renewal program.
The Australian flag carrier is using the long-range narrowbody jets to retire its Boeing 737s and support new short-, medium-, and long-haul routes. With this week’s order in the books, Qantas’ total order for the A321XLR stands at 48.
The aircraft will be divided between Qantas and its low-cost subsidiary Jetstar. The 16 jets bound for Qantas’ mainline operations will get new cabin configurations, with lie-flat business-class seats and seatback entertainment screens, making them suitable for long-haul flying.
Airline officials said some of the aircraft will be used on “transcontinental services” to and from Perth, Australia, on the country’s west coast, and to expand service to Southeast Asia and islands in the Pacific.
Jetstar’s A321XLRs will be fitted with a two-class cabin. The budget carrier primarily operates within Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, but also offers longer flights to Japan, South Korea, and Hawaii.
Jetstar’s aircraft will be delivered starting in 2027, while the new configuration jets for Qantas will begin arriving in 2028.
“These additional A321XLRs will accelerate the retirement of our 737 fleet and open up new opportunities for domestic and international travel, allowing us to reach destinations that aren’t possible with our current narrowbody fleet,” said Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson in a news release.
While the airline did not formally announce any new routes, Hudson said service between Perth and India and between Adelaide and Singapore are possibilities.
Qantas’ first two A321XLRs are expected to enter service next month. They will initially be used on flights between Sydney and Melbourne and between Sydney and Perth before expanding to other routes.
Qantas has ordered a total of 214 Airbus and Boeing aircraft as part of its fleet renewal program, and 32 have been delivered so far. It has additional purchase options with both manufacturers.
