After Iberia and WizzAir, it's Qantas' turn: first A321xlr flown to Australia
Australian airline Qantas Airways today received its first Airbus A321XLR, becoming the first carrier in the Asia-Pacific [...]
Qantas
Oneworld
The Australian airline Qantas Airways today received his first Airbus A321XLR, becoming the first vector of the area Asia-Pacific to take delivery of the new single-aisle aircraft with long-range capability. The delivery took place at the Airbus plant in Finkenwerder, in Hamburg. Demonstrating the potential of the aircraft, the transfer flight to Sydney will include a single technical stop for crew rest, scheduled at Bangkok.
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The aircraft is equipped with Pratt & Whitney GTF Engines and is configured in two classes: 20 places in Business Class and 177 places in Economy. Initially it will be employed on domestic routes in Australia, with the intention of using it later to secondary connections to Asia. The Qantas Group ordered a total of 40 A321XLR, including 28 for the flag carrier and 12 for the controlled low cost Jetstar. The aircraft is part of a maxi order of 152 aircraft Airbus, which also includes. 128 narrowbody (A320neo family) and 24 widebody A350-1000 For long-haul routes.
What's so special about the A321XLR
L'A321XLR (Extra Long Range) is the most advanced evolution of the A320neo and represents a real revolution for the segment narrowbody. With a Range of up to 4,700 nautical miles (about 8,700 km), is able to cover routes traditionally served by widebody, but with Significantly lower operating costs. It also offers a reduction of 30% of CO₂ emissions and fuel consumption compared to competing previous generation aircraft. Thanks to these features, the A321XLR enables airlines to open new point-to-point routes between medium-sized cities, avoiding congested hubs and increasing operational flexibility.
Those who already use the A321XLR
The first A321XLRs were delivered during 2024 and are currently in service with Iberia which was the launch customer for this model, which now also flies with Aer Lingus to the US. WizzAir, was the first low-cost airline to receive this machine and currently uses it its only model to fly from London to Jeddah.
Who ordered the A321XLR
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L'A321XLR has been a huge commercial success since its launch, garnering over 500 orders by airlines around the world interested in its unique long-range narrow-body capabilities. Prominent among its major customers is the Indian airline IndiGo, with 69 orders, followed by American Airlines e United Airlines, both with 50 aircraft each.
In the European market, Wizz Air bet big on XLR with 47 units, while the Qantas Group He ordered 36, intended for both the mainline and low-cost Jetstar. Other notable carriers include. Air Canada (30 orders), Air Arabia, AirAsia X e VietJet (all with 20 specimens each). The list also includes. JetSmart (14 units), Icelandair, JetBlue e LATAM (all with 13 Aircraft), Cebu Pacific, Flynas e SKY Airline (each with 10 orders).
With this delivery, Qantas prepares for a new era, leveraging the technology of the A321XLR to Redesigning routes in the Pacific and Southeast Asia., improving operational efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
