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QantasLink’s newest A220-300 regional jet has entered commercial service, operating its first revenue flight this week.
VH-X4F, which touched down in Canberra on 3 April, is the sixth A220 in the Qantas fleet and flew passengers for the first time as QF1271 from Canberra to Melbourne on Monday.
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A Qantas spokesperson said the aircraft had arrived “in time to support our operation during the busy Easter holiday period”.
“We’re pleased to have welcomed our sixth A220, VH-X4F ‘Rainbow Lorikeet’, to Canberra last week, following its ferry flight from the Airbus factory in Mirabel, Canada,” the spokesperson said.
The A220s are replacing QantasLink’s now-retired 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 A220-300s have 25 per cent more seats (137 compared to 110 on the 717), plus twice the range and 28 per cent lower fuel burn per seat. The first A220, VH-X4A, arrived in Australia in December 2023, and a total of 29 are on order by the end of 2027.
Internationally, Qantas had planned to launch its new Darwin–Singapore service using the A220, but instead launched using the 737-800, with the A220 to take over the route in October.
“By adding over 70,000 new seats to the Singapore mega hub, this new route will open up more options for international visitors to make Darwin the first stop on their Australian itinerary,” Cam Wallace, the airline’s international chief executive, said.
“2025 is a year of growth for Qantas and Jetstar in the NT, with over 180,000 extra seats and two new routes including Singapore with Qantas and the Gold Coast with Jetstar later this year.”
Australian Aviation previously reported how Qantas initially planned to begin the route in December last year using E190s before switching to A220s and then 737s, albeit temporarily.
As the 737 is a larger aircraft, the route will maintain roughly the same seat capacity despite flying one fewer service per week. Flights will arrive in Singapore in time to connect with Qantas’ QF1 services from Sydney to London via Singapore.
According to Qantas, this new change will allow more training time for former 717 pilots on the new aircraft type, which is operating QantasLink domestic flights on the east coast.
