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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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says:So, we are having an international long haul economy cabin configured as per the domestic low cost variety. Seriously, long haul is totally different from domestic, surely the boffins are aware of that difference, or are they buffoons?
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says:I always preferred the A321 over the A320 and now with the variants eg NEO/xtra tanks etc. I am even more impressed, I guess that now I should temper my criticisms of the various planners charged with the introduction into service of these great aircraft. I am mindful that probably all of them were weaned on wide body A/C and these light twins to them are unique. I, as did others, comment on the lack of toots on the first of the 321XLRs and the Boss Lady was quick to adv that future deliveries would have more toots and it has happened BUT, – can I bring you into the real world? As soon as the doors are closed for departure the cabin crew will most likely block off one of the FWD toots for crew use only, this will leave only 3 for pax use which is a no change situation to the original A/C deliveries. Now I ask, if you are a premium fare paying pax having an after lunch lie down on your lay flat bed would you be impressed with the continuous flow of the underprivileged with probably their young upcoming underprivileged economy/low cost burdens on society going to and from the remaining up front toot gawking and pointing the finger at you as you slumber under the cloud of Clicquot, of course not so let’s stop it before it happens. As I said in a previous comment, please, consider moving the rear toot/s away from the galley area and position them midships now 4 total and problem solved BUT, we are about 30 mins short of the 8 hour sector time requiring an extra pilot and then, where is the needed crew rest area or don’t we worry about that these days? We are supposed to be progressing, but the evidence says otherwise.
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says:I know these are fabulous aircraft – we keep being told that! BUT, they’re not wide bodied and the business cabin (at this stage) doesn’t have a flatbed configuration. I’m yet to be convinced that this will be a winner for the passenger. On the A330 – you are never more than one teat from the isle. A three/three configuration can’t possibly be better.