Qantas has today confirmed an order for 12 Airbus A350-1000s, 20 A321XLRs and 20 A220s. The order is in addition to the Group’s current order for 109 A32oneo Family aircraft, including A321XLRs for the company’s Jetstar subsidiary.
On Monday (May 2, 2022), Airbus announced that Qantas has confirmed an order for 12 Airbus A350-100s, 20 A321XLRs and 20 A220s. The carrier selected the A350-1000 following a review known as ‘Project Sunrise’ and the aircraft will allow the airline to operate the world’s longest nonstop commercial flights, linking Sydney and Melbourne directly with cities such as New York and London for the first time. Qantas’ A350-1000s will feature a premium cabin layout and will be powered by Rolls-Royce’s latest generation Trent XWB engines. The A321XLR and A220 were selected after an evaluation project called ‘Project Winton’, and will be deployed on domestic routes across Australia. The A321XLR’s extended range capability will also allow the carrier to operate flights from Australia to South East Asia. Both single-aisle aircraft will be powered by fuel-efficient Pratt & Whitney GTF engines.
In Monday’s announcment, Qantas Group’s CEO, Alan Joyce, said,
“New types of aircraft make new things possible. That’s what makes today’s announcement so significant for the national carrier and for a country like Australia where air travel is crucial. The A350 and Project Sunrise will make any city just one flight away from Australia. It’s the last frontier and the final fix for the tyranny of distance.
“The A320s and A220s will become the backbone of our domestic fleet for the next 20 years, helping to keep this country moving. Their range and economics will make new direct routes possible. The Board’s decision to green light what is the largest aircraft order in Australian aviation is a clear vote of confidence in the future of Qantas.”
Also commenting on Qantas’ confirmed order, Airbus’ Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International, Christian Scherer, added,
“Qantas is one of the world’s iconic airlines, with a visionary spirit from its inception over 100 years ago. We are honoured by the confidence that Qantas is placing in Airbus and look forward to delivering to the Group one of the world’s most modern, efficient and sustainable fleets. This decision by Qantas underscores the position of the A350 as the reference long range widebody aircraft.
Video Rendering of New Qantas Airbus A350-1000 First Class Suite - Courtesy Qantas
In a separate announcement on Monday (May 2, 2022), Qantas described the configuration of their new Airbus A350-1000s in further detail. The aircraft will feature luxurious First Class suites with a separate bed, recliner and personal wardrobe, a next generation Business suite, and new Premium Economy and Economy Class seats. The Premium Economy seats will have a generous 40 inch pitch, while Economy seats will feature a 33 inch pitch. The aircraft will also include a dedicated Wellbeing Zone designed specifically for ultra-long-haul flights, with space for movement, stretching and hydration. Qantas’ A350-1000s will accommodate 238 guests across four classes, the lowest compared to any other A350-1000 in service, with 40 percent of the cabin dedicated to premium seating.
Slideshow Featuring Infographic of Qantas' New A350-1000 and Renderings of the First Class Suite and Wellbeing Zone - Courtesy Qantas
Today’s confirmed aircraft order is in addition to the Group’s existing order for 109 Airbus A320neo Family aircraft, including A321XLRs for the company’s LCC Jetstar. The Airbus A350, A321XLR and A220 are each the market leader in their size categories. The aircraft also offer up to a 25 percent reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions, as well as a noise footprint that is 50 percent lower than previous generation aircraft. All Airbus aircraft currently in production have been certified to fly with a 50 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blend, with a target to increase this to 100 percent by 2030.
Source(s): Airbus, Qantas
Editor's Note: The original article was updated on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at 15:15 EDT to include additional information, visuals and video of Qantas' New Airbus A350-1000