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Jetstar has officially unveiled its new Airbus A320neo aircraft after the first arrived in Australia earlier this week.
Painted in the airline’s updated orange-tail livery, as seen on its A321neo LR fleet, the 188-seat VH-A5A is the first of five A320neos slated to arrive by the end of the 2025 financial year and will be based in Melbourne.
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Jetstar plans to introduce it on domestic routes over the summer, including to Sydney, Sunshine Coast, Launceston, and Adelaide; the A320neos will eventually replace Jetstar’s existing A320-200 (A320ceo) aircraft.
“The new A320neos will provide customers with a new level of low-cost comfort through their refreshed cabin, larger overhead storage, seat back device holders and in-seat power,” said Jetstar CEO Stephanie Tully.
“These aircraft are also more fuel efficient, reducing emissions and helping us to offer more low fares across our domestic and international network.
“We’re expecting another four A320neos by the middle of next year as part of an ongoing refresh of our narrow and widebody fleet.”
Anand Stanley, president of Airbus Asia-Pacific, congratulated Jetstar on the delivery of the new plane.
“The aircraft will bring new levels of efficiency to the carrier’s operations, significantly reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions,” he said.
“We are proud that our aircraft have been selected by Jetstar as it builds one of the youngest and modern fleets in the region. We thank Jetstar most sincerely for its ongoing confidence in Airbus and its products.”
Jetstar has already been updating its fleet with the A321neo LR, with the first, VH-OFE, having arrived in 2022; the airline now has 18 in operation.
According to Jetstar, the A321neos deliver 99.8 per cent mechanical reliability, are 50 per cent quieter than similar size Airbus A320/A321s, and burn up to 20 per cent less fuel.
The airline also last year announced a refresh to the cabins on its 787-8 Dreamliners, with business class seats to double to 44, economy seats to be replaced with more ergonomic models, and on-board Wi-Fi to be installed.
To make room for the extra business seats, the total seats across the whole aircraft will drop from 335 to 325. There will also be “new ways” for customers, including Club Jetstar members, to book business class seats.
Additionally, seat-back screens will be removed to reduce weight and fuel burn, to be replaced by the device holders with in-flight Wi-Fi.
The overhaul to each of Jetstar’s 11 787 aircraft will be carried out during scheduled maintenance starting in 2025.
