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Qantas has marked the inaugural flights of its next-generation Airbus A321XLR aircraft, which are set to replace its Boeing 737-800 fleet.
VH-OGA “Great Ocean Road” took off from Sydney to Melbourne as flight QF1321 just after 9am on Thursday, with VH-OGB leaving Sydney for Perth as QF645 shortly after 11am. The Flying Kangaroo is the fourth airline in the world, and the first in the Asia-Pacific, to operate the next-generation plane.
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“Seeing our A321XLRs take to the skies with customers for the first time is a proud moment for everyone involved and testament to the incredible efforts of the teams across Qantas and Airbus,” said Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson.
“Investing in next generation aircraft is the most significant way we can elevate the travel experience for our customers and our people. We have already seen a significant improvement in customer satisfaction on our new A220s and Jetstar’s new aircraft.
“Preparing for these commercial flights has taken an enormous effort, with nearly 350 training flights and more than 40,000 hours of training completed, as well as thousands of pieces of equipment deployed across our network.
“We look forward to introducing our A321XLRs on other domestic and international routes as more aircraft join our fleet.”
Speaking to Australian Aviation on the inaugural Melbourne service, Hudson said the A321XLR will not only form the backbone of Qantas’ domestic fleet as older 737s are phased out, but will also offer new opportunities in international routes.
“We’ve ordered 48 [A321XLRs], and 16 of those aircraft are going to have an international configured product, so flat beds in business and a new economy experience,” she said.
“These aircraft can fly 3000 kilometres further than a 737, and with the hubs that we’ve got on the east coast and also in Perth, that’s going to enable us to open up new routes as well.
“We’ve been investing a lot in Perth Airport as a hub, and that’s going to be a new terminal in time. What that’s going to enable is, with these aircraft, you could see flights from Perth to India, Perth to Malaysia, Perth up into Southeast Asia.
“We’ll make those decisions in time, but it’s enabled by the investment that we’re making in the airport and also the investment in these aircraft.”
The A321XLR forms part of Qantas’ massive fleet renewal program, which is seeing the carrier transition from a mostly-Boeing airline to largely Airbus.
Stephen Forshaw, Airbus’ chief representative in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific, told Australian Aviation that the planemaker is proud to be partnering with Qantas as it looks ahead to the Project Sunrise A350-1000s, expected to arrive at the end of 2026.
“We’re proud of the fact that Qantas has chosen our aircraft, the A220, the A321 and the A350. It is a huge responsibility on us to deliver on those commitments,” he said.
“The big one, of course, is the A350-1000ULR that starts delivery next year, that Qantas will ultimately put into service on on the Sydney to London and Sydney to New York non stop routes. They will be the longest two flights in the world, by a long way.
“So we have to work really hard with Qantas to make sure that’s delivered well, that the aircraft performs well, and that we work with them to ensure that the services provided on board to customers are what customers can expect and want on a flight that long.”
The third A321XLR, VH-OGC, is expected to arrive in November, with seven anticipated by June 2026.
The reporter travelled as a guest of Qantas.
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says:Two bathrooms for 180 economy pax is going to be a bit of a wait, maybe they should issue dippers to each pax in E/Y on boarding.