This week, Qantas began flying its next-gen aircraft, the Airbus A321XLR, from Australia’s Brisbane Airport (BNE). The latest route for the airline’s new plane goes between Brisbane and Sydney, giving more passengers the chance to experience a state-of-the-art flight. Qantas is the first airline in the Asia Pacific region to fly the A321XLR, and only the fourth in the world.
The next-gen aircraft marks a major step in Qantas’ narrowbody fleet renewal
A321XLR routes to and from Brisbane signal the continued growth of Qantas’ fleet-renewal program. The state-of-the-art plane uses a wider and longer cabin, higher ceilings, wider seats, fast and free Wi-Fi, and larger windows. Not only that, but it has about 60% more baggage capacity than the prior 737s. Reduced carbon emissions is another benefit, with the aircraft using less fuel per seat than the 737s it’s replacing. Brisbane is a significant hub for Qantas, with the airline flying over 2,000 domestic and international routes per week.
Qantas Domestic CEO Markus Svensson said: “Qantas has a proud history in Queensland, having been founded in Winton 105 years ago, so bringing our newest aircraft to the state is particularly meaningful. We’ve had great feedback from customers who have flown on the aircraft, with its 60% larger onboard baggage space a real drawcard and a much quieter cabin than previous generation aircraft.”
“The A321XLR is also far more efficient than the previous generation aircraft it is replacing, which is helping us to progress toward our sustainability goals. We’re sure the A321XLR will be well received on our Sydney-Brisbane service, one of our busiest routes.”