Qantas has ordered 20 new Airbus A321XLR aircraft, expanding its fleet renewal efforts and targeting new direct flights.
The A321XLR’s range is more than 3,000 kilometres longer than the current Boeing 737s, Qantas said, enabling direct flights to new destinations. Qantas’ first A321XLRs will launch in September, and Jetstar’s will be delivered from 2027.
“These additional A321XLRs will accelerate the retirement of our 737 fleet and open up new opportunities for domestic and international travel, allowing us to reach destinations that aren’t possible with our current narrowbody fleet,” said Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson.
“Not only will the A321XLRs help us serve the corporate market travelling between Perth and the east coast of Australia, they will also allow us to expand flying on existing routes into South East Asia and open up new possibilities like Perth-India and Adelaide-Singapore.”
Qantas’ first two A321XLRs will be aimed at domestic and short-haul international routes, and will begin flights in mid-September. Its initial routes will be Sydney-Melbourne and Sydney-Perth.
These A321XLRs will accommodate 197 passengers, including a 66% increase in premium seats over the 737s.
Another 16 A321XLRs will include lie-flat Business class seats and seat-back entertainment screens, targeting longer routes. These will arrive from 2028.
Qantas will be the first airline in the Asia Pacific to operate A321XLR aircraft. Jetstar will also begin receiving A321XLRs from 2027, which will include a two-class cabin and operate on international routes.
In total, 214 aircraft have been ordered as part of Qantas’ fleet renewal plan, with 32 delivered by the end of June. Across fiscal year 2025, Qantas received 17 new aircraft, and 20 will arrive during fiscal year 2026.
Qantas reported A$2.39 billion in underlying profit before tax last fiscal year, up 15%. It projected increases of 3-5% in group domestic revenue and 2-3% in international revenue for the next half, with total capacity increases of 5%.
