Qantas Group has confirmed tentative orders with Airbus for twelve ultra-long-range-capable A350-1000s, twenty A321-200NY(XLR)s, and twenty A220-300s, with a further 94 options for narrowbody aircraft.
Qantas (QF, Sydney Kingsford Smith) plans to use the A350s for non-stop flights from Sydney Kingsford Smith and Melbourne Tullamarine to Europe and the US East Coast as part of its Project Sunrise. The first aircraft are expected to deliver in 2025, in time for the late 2025 launch of flights from the two Australian gateways to London and New York. The remainder will deliver through 2028.
"The A350 and Project Sunrise will make almost any city in the world just one flight away from Australia. It’s the last frontier and the final fix for the tyranny of distance that has traditionally challenged travel to Australia. The first Project Sunrise flights will be from New York and London, but the aircraft will also be able to operate non-stop flights to Australia from destinations such as Paris and Frankfurt," Chief Executive Alan Joyce said.
The carrier will outfit the aircraft with a premium-heavy cabin configuration with six first-class suites (featuring a separate bed and a seat), 52 business class seats, 40 premium economy, and 140 economy. The aircraft will also be equipped with a "wellbeing zone" for stretching and hydration given the length of the ultra-long-haul flights.
Qantas initially hoped to order the A350s in 2020 but deferred the project due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The airline also confirmed its order for A321-200NX(XLR)s and A220s to replace its mainline fleet of B717-200s and B737-800s. The A220s will start delivering in late 2023 and the A321neo a year later. Including the options, deliveries could continue through 2034. Qantas currently operates seventy-five B737-800s and wet-leases twenty B717-200s from subsidiary Cobham Aviation Services Australia - Airline Services (QJE, Adelaide International).
The new A220/A321neo is on top of an existing commitment for 109 A320neo Family aircraft for Jetstar Airways (JQ, Melbourne Tullamarine). The LCC subsidiary is on track to take its first A321-200NX(LR) in July 2022. The Group has also converted twenty A320-200N orders into A321-200NX(XLR)s, with deliveries starting in the second half of 2024. Following the adjustment, Jetstar Airways has orders for twenty-five A320-200Ns, one A321-200NX, twenty-six A321-200NX(LR)s, and fifty-six -200NX(XLR)s, the ch-aviation fleets module shows.
