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QantasLink’s new A220s have operated outside a major capital city for the first time after one of its fleet landed in Launceston.
VH-X4B, named “Koala”, departed Melbourne at 9:48am local time as flight QF1541 and landed in the northern Tasmanian city at 10:37am.
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The 137-seater A220s are gradually replacing QantasLink’s ageing Boeing 717 fleet, and offer a greater range and better fuel efficiency as well as cabin improvements including larger windows, more overhead locker space, and more comfortable economy seating compared to the 717.
The Flying Kangaroo currently operates four A220s, with a fifth expected to arrive in November.
The first QantasLink A220, VH-X4A, which features a special Indigenous art-inspired livery, touched down in Sydney in December following its ferry flight from Canada, while VH-X4B arrived on Australian soil a month later.
QantasLink CEO Rachel Yangoyan said the A220 would provide an improved experience for travellers to and from Launceston.
“We are thrilled to bring the new Airbus A220 aircraft to Launceston for the first time today,” said Yangoyan. “We’ve had great feedback from customers on the A220 since it first started flying on our network earlier this year. It offers more space, larger windows, fast Wi-Fi and specially designed seats that will all vastly improve the travelling experience.
“The size of the aircraft makes it the perfect addition to our fleet that currently operate our routes to the Apple Isle and it’s great to see the A220 now flying to two Tasmanian airports.”
Qantas is at the start of its major fleet renewal program, which will see the airline move from a predominantly Boeing to an Airbus airline.
Internationally, Qantas will receive 12 new 787 Dreamliners and 12 Airbus A350s to replace the bulk of its ageing A330 fleet, alongside a separate order for 12 specially adapted A350-1000 jets to launch Project Sunrise.
Domestically, the airline will purchase 20 Airbus A321XLRs and 29 A220-300s to fly its domestic routes, but with the option to buy many more.
Finally, subsidiary brand Jetstar has already begun welcoming its new fleet of 38 A320neos, comprised of 18 A321LRs and 20 A321XLR aircraft – an even longer-range variant.
Australian Aviation previously reported in July how a former QantasLink Boeing 717-200 was sighted in the Victorville boneyard after it retired from the fleet.
VH-YQX (pictured) was photographed by a friend of Australian Aviation contributor Rob Finlayson with the majority of its QantasLink branding removed, having arrived in Victorville on 11 April.
The 24-year-old aircraft originally flew for defunct Greek carrier Olympic Airlines before moving to Spanish airline Spanair, then Finnish airline Blue1. It came to Australia with Cobham in 2016 before being transferred to QantasLink operator National Jet Systems in 2020, where it spent the last four years of its operational life.
VH-YQX’s final commercial flight was QF1501 from Sydney to Canberra on 31 March this year, after which it left Australia bound for the boneyard on 9 April.
