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Qantas is rumoured to be in the market for another 20 new wide-body jets, according to reporting from Reuters.
“Industry sources” cited by the news wire claimed that the Flying Kangaroo is in talks with Airbus and Boeing for more A350s or 787 Dreamliners, in addition to the 24 A350-1000s and 12 787s it currently has on order, though both Airbus and Boeing declined to comment.
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“We’re in regular contact with aircraft manufacturers as part of our ongoing fleet planning and always update the market when we have something to announce. We currently have no updates or orders to announce,” a Qantas spokesperson told Reuters.
The reports come after Qantas this month saw the maiden test flight of its first A350-1000ULR, which has been specially built for “Project Sunrise” flights from the east coast to London and New York.
“The flight was focused on testing the aircraft’s primary systems including the jet’s specialised fuel system, which includes an additional 20,000 litre rear centre fuel tank that will enable commercial flights of up to 22 hours non-stop,” Qantas said in a statement in early June.
“The successful first flight marks the beginning of a two-month testing campaign, with the aircraft to complete around 80 hours of flight testing and undergo extensive on-ground checks and certification of new and redesigned components that will enable the A350 to fly ultra-long-haul sectors.
“This includes certifying a new galley air cooling system which features lighter and more efficient refrigeration units, which will be rolled out across all future Airbus A350 aircraft.”
Qantas and Airbus confirmed last month that the A350-1000ULR’s arrival in Australia would be again delayed to early next year due to supply chain issues, pushing back the commercial launch further into 2027.
“While the first aircraft delivery has shifted to April 2027, the next four will follow in quick succession, putting us back on our original schedule by November,” the airline said in May.
Qantas in 2023 announced it would order 12 additional Dreamliners, including four 787-9s and eight 787-10s, alongside 12 traditional A350-1000s to replace the bulk of its aging A330 fleet, in a move then-CEO Alan Joyce called “generational” for the 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,” he said at the time.
Qantas will announce timings and destinations for its first Project Sunrise commercial service later this month.
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