Qantas pilots have started training in preparation for the first Airbus A321XLR aircraft to arrive in Australia next year with the airline today confirming the cabin experience customers can expect onboard.

As part of Qantas’ fleet renewal program, 28 A321XLR aircraft have been ordered as part of the progressive replacement of its fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft over the next decade, with the first due to arrive in April 2025.

The A321XLR is the longest-range variant of the Airbus A320 family, which will allow Qantas to open up new non-stop routes that aren’t viable with existing aircraft.

The new fleet will offer a more comfortable flying experience for customers with a quieter cabin, deliver more reliable operations and generate fewer emissions per seat than the aircraft they replace.

TRAINING

Ahead of the arrival of the first A321XLR, Qantas pilots have started training on a new CAE 7000XR Series A320 simulator that was shipped from Montreal, Canada, to Australia earlier in the year over a 34-day journey.

More than 240 Qantas pilots are expected to be trained on the A321XLR aircraft over the next three years, opening up new career pathways and promotional opportunities.

Pilots will spend up to 60 hours in the new simulator as part of their broader training program, and then return each year for four recurrency training sessions.

The simulator is fitted with the latest technology and will be one of the few in the world fitted with a dual head-up display.

The A320 simulator is based in the new Sydney Flight Training Centre that is expected to be fully operational with more flight simulators and training equipment to be added by the end of the year.

In addition, around 2,000 cabin crew will also be progressively trained on the new aircraft type as they enter the fleet.

QANTAS A321XLR CABINS

The cabin and seats of the new Qantas A321XLR have been designed with a focus on maximising passenger comfort. Customers can expect:

• A more comfortable Economy seat that’s wider than the 737 seat with extra comfort seat cushioning
• The largest overhead bins of any single-aisle aircraft that allow for 60 per cent more bags than the 737.
• A sense of spaciousness in the long cabin with higher ceilings and large windows, and a wider cabin than the 737.
• Fast, free Wi-Fi allowing all customers inflight to stay connected across multiple devices, as well as the improved Qantas Entertainment App for streaming content to their own device.
• Seats for 197 passengers across two cabins, with 20 Business seats in a 2-2 configuration and 177 Economy seats[1] in a 3-3 configuration.

See fact sheet for more information and renders of the Business and Economy seats.

COMMENTS

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said the arrival of the A321XLR represented significant opportunities for employees and customers.

“Qantas will be one of the first airlines in the world to operate the A321XLR and ahead of the arrival of our first aircraft next year, we’ve started pilot training and finalised the details of the customer experience,” said Ms Hudson.

“Nearly half of all the customers Qantas carries each year travel on our 737 fleet so the A321XLR aircraft that we’ve ordered to replace them will be incredibly important for our future.

“New aircraft mean more jobs, training and promotion opportunities for our people and we’ll be training more than 240 pilots on the new aircraft over the next three years.

“The A321XLR is a fantastic aircraft to be part of our next generation fleet, and its range and versatility will give us to opportunity to explore more non-stop routes and operate them cost effectively.

“The QantasLink A220s and the Jetstar A320neo family already received as part of our Group fleet renewal program are providing major improvements in running cost, network flexibility, passenger comfort and emissions.”

A321XLR FACTS

• Qantas’ A321XLR is five metres longer than the outgoing 737s and will be configured to seat 197 people (20 business, 177 economy) – a 13 per cent increase across the whole cabin with no reduction in space between seats and a 66 per cent increase in premium seats.
• It can fly approximately 3,000km further than the 737 (at 8,700km) and opens up a wider range of direct domestic and short haul international routes (e.g. South East Asia, Pacific islands).
• Qantas’ A321XLR will be powered by Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbo Fan engines (PW1100G-JM).
• The A321XLR improves noise levels compared to previous generation aircraft.
• On a per seat basis, the A321XLR is expected to burn less fuel than the 737 aircraft it replaces.
• Qantas employees are helping name the new fleet of aircraft under the theme of Walks, Rivers and Roads as a nod to the iconic travel opportunities across Australia and the importance of connecting this vast landscape and beyond. The first aircraft to arrive will be called Great Ocean Road.

ASSETS

• Fact sheet: Qantas A321XLR
• Fact sheet: Qantas Group fleet renewal program
• Photos and b-roll Qantas pilots training in A320 sim

[1] The first three Qantas A321XLRs will arrive configured with 180 Economy seats.