Qantas Freight and Australia Post expand air cargo capacity with Airbus A321 freighter in western Sydney

Qantas Freight and Australia Post have entered the next chapter of their long-standing partnership with the arrival of the first of three additional Airbus A321 Passenger-to-Freighter (A321P2F) aircraft, strengthening their ability to meet rising demand for fast, reliable parcel deliveries across Australia.The introduction of the three aircraft will increase capacity across Qantas Freight’s dedicated freighter network by up to 20%, enabling the carrier to transport up to 20,000 Australia Post and StarTrack parcels on every flight. The additional capacity will enhance network resilience and help keep customers, businesses and communities connected nationwide.

Arriving just ahead of the Black Friday sales period and the busy Christmas shipping season, the first aircraft will support Australia Post and Qantas Freight as online shopping volumes surge across the country. The new freighters will enhance overnight and next-day delivery capabilities and will operate through all Qantas Freight domestic terminals, including the recently opened 24-hour facility at Western Sydney International (WSI) Airport, which began operations in July. The remaining two A321P2F aircraft are expected to join the fleet by March 2027.

Offering significantly greater payload capability than the BAE 146-300 freighters they replace, the larger A321P2F aircraft will support growing parcel volumes while improving network efficiency and contributing to lower emissions across the Australian freight network.

The latest fleet expansion follows the recent renewal of the Qantas Freight and Australia Post partnership for a further 10 years, extending a relationship dating back to 1922 when Qantas carried 106 letters on its inaugural commercial flight. Under the renewed agreement, the partners will continue supporting the movement of more than 75 million parcels and freight items annually across Australia and international markets.

Qantas Freight Executive Manager Igor Kwiatkowski commented: “Australia’s freight network plays a critical role in connecting businesses and communities across the country. This investment will help us support Australia Post and respond more effectively as demand for fast overnight deliveries continues to grow.”

Australia Post General Manager Linehaul Fleet and Special Services Mark Davies stated:"Whether it's a customer making a purchase from a Black Friday sale or a small business sending orders across the country, Australians expect fast and reliable delivery. These new aircraft will help us move more parcels across our network and provide additional capacity at a time when online shopping continues to grow and major retail events are driving record parcel volumes. Together with Qantas, we're investing in the infrastructure that keeps Australia connected. The addition of these aircraft, alongside the opening of Western Sydney International Airport's 24-hour freight terminal, will help strengthen the resilience and capacity of our network for years to come."