Qantas Airways has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR, becoming the launch operator for the aircraft type in the Asia-Pacific region as part of its ongoing fleet renewal.

The new single-aisle jet, assembled at Airbus’s Finkenwerder facility in Hamburg, is flying (30 June) to Sydney with just one stop in Bangkok, underscoring its long-range capabilities.

Powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, the aircraft is configured with 20 Business Class seats and 177 in the main cabin. Qantas will initially deploy the aircraft on domestic routes across Australia, with plans to expand to secondary destinations in Asia.

The A321XLR is the longest-range variant in the A320neo family, capable of flying up to 4,700 nautical miles. It promises a 30% reduction in fuel burn and carbon emissions compared to older generation narrowbodies.

Qantas Group has ordered 40 A321XLRs – 28 for Qantas and 12 for its low-cost carrier Jetstar – as part of a broader commitment to modernise its fleet. In total, the airline holds orders for 128 Airbus single-aisle aircraft and 24 A350-1000s.

Airbus has received more than 500 orders for the A321XLR, which can currently operate on blends of up to 50% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with a goal of reaching 100% SAF capability by 2030.

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