Qantas has introduced fairly a couple of updates about its fleet at present. I’ve already written concerning the newest concerning the Airbus A220-300 and Airbus A350-1000, and now needed to cowl Qantas’ newest particulars concerning the Airbus A321XLR.
Qantas has 28 Airbus A321XLRs on order
In 2019, Qantas Group positioned an order for the Airbus A321XLR, which is the longest vary and largest model of the Airbus A320 household. This plane is identical measurement as all different A321s, however with further vary, as that is an evolution of the A321ceo (and A321neo, and A321LR).
These A321XLRs have been ordered for each Qantas and Jetstar, and the allocation between the 2 subsidiaries has modified over time. Initially the plan was for a minimum of 20 of these planes to go to Qantas, however that quantity has now been upped to a minimum of 28 plane.
The catch is that since this can be a model new jet, it’s dealing with some supply delays. Whereas Qantas first anticipated to take supply of the A321XLR in late 2024, that timeline has now been pushed again to early 2025. Don’t be stunned if the timing is pushed again even additional, because the aircraft isn’t in service with any airline simply but, and hasn’t even been licensed.
Qantas Airbus A321XLRs may have 200 seats
Whereas there aren’t any actual particulars about what the passenger expertise shall be like, Qantas’ Airbus A321XLRs are anticipated to have 200 seats, together with 20 enterprise class seats and 180 economic system seats.
That structure positive means that Qantas will simply have a reasonably normal home configuration, as that’s an analogous variety of seats to what you’ll discover on A321 plane working for main airways in the USA.
So although this aircraft has superb vary and will in idea function lengthy haul flights, Qantas’ present plans aren’t to put in flat mattress seats on these planes, or else we’d see a really totally different capability. For instance, JetBlue’s Airbus A321LRs, that are used for transatlantic flights, function simply 138 seats.
Qantas Airbus A321XLRs will (oddly) substitute Boeing 737-800s
Qantas’ motive with ordering Airbus A321XLRs is to make use of them to interchange Boeing 737-800s, that are primarily used for home and quick haul worldwide flights. Admittedly these planes will solely partially substitute 737s, provided that Qantas has 75 of these, whereas there are solely 28 A321XLRs on order.
Nonetheless, up to now Qantas’ solely agency Airbus slim physique order is for the A321XLR. Personally, I can’t actually make sense of Qantas’ Airbus A321XLR order, a minimum of primarily based on what we all know up to now. I get why Qantas is ordering from the A321neo household, because it presents the capability the airline wants. However the airline goes for the additional lengthy vary model of the aircraft, which is able to working flights to Asia that the 737 couldn’t.
With that in thoughts:
- The A321XLR is dearer than different variations of the aircraft, so sometimes airways solely order these planes in the event that they particularly have the intention of utilizing them for lengthy haul routes
- Qantas states that these planes will primarily be used between main Australian cities (together with between Sydney and Melbourne, and so forth.), and it’s additionally acknowledged that the aircraft’s longer vary “can be used to open up new metropolis pairs”
- If Qantas configures these planes with 200 seats, they received’t actually have the passenger expertise wanted for full service lengthy haul routes
I’m not claiming this can be a dangerous determination, however moderately am simply stating that it’s stunning. We’ve seen a variety of airways order A321XLRs, however Qantas is among the solely airways to particularly state that these planes will largely be used to function hour-long flights between main markets.
So will Qantas in the end determine to configure a few of these jets in a extra premium configuration, or what’s the purpose of getting 200-seat further lengthy vary planes in a regional, non-premium configuration?
Backside line
Qantas has now dedicated to including 28 Airbus A321XLRs to its fleet, which is able to begin working passenger flights as of early 2025 (pending any additional certification delays for the plane). Whereas the A321XLR is a jet with unimaginable vary, Qantas intends to make use of this plane primarily for brief haul flights, and the aircraft shall be configured accordingly.
I’m undecided I absolutely perceive Qantas’ A321XLR technique, so I’m curious to see how this all performs out…
What do you make of Qantas’ Airbus A321XLR plans?
