First Qantas A321XLR progresses to final assembly line

Qantas is a step closer to receiving its first Airbus A321XLR with the aircraft entering the final assembly line at Airbus’ production facility in Hamburg, Germany. This marks a significant milestone in the Group’s fleet renewal program, with the aircraft’s major airframe components including the forward and rear fuselage, wings and iconic Flying Kangaroo tail coming together.

The aircraft, which is scheduled to be delivered in April 2025, will be the first of 28 A321XLR aircraft on firm order (with purchase right options for more) as part of the progressive replacement of the Group’s fleet of Boeing 737s over the next decade. QantasLink is already operating the new A220 aircraft, with the fifth scheduled to enter into service by the end of the year.

Earlier this month, Iberia was the first airline globally to operate a commercial flight with the A321XLR.  When the first of these next generation aircraft takes to Australian skies next year, Qantas customers will be the first in the Asia Pacific to experience the Airbus A321XLR. The new aircraft type will initially operate on domestic flights currently operated by 737 aircraft. The new aircraft will offer a more comfortable flying experience for customers with wider seats, larger windows, fast, free Wi-Fi and overhead bins that allow for around 60 per cent more bags than the 737.

In readiness for the arrival of the first A321XLR, Qantas engineering has received almost 800 pieces of new tooling and pilot training is underway with pilots spending up to 60 hours in the new simulator before stepping into the flight deck.

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said the first A321XLR rolling onto the final assembly line follows more than two years of hard work and planning by a number of teams across Qantas: “These new aircraft are part of the biggest domestic fleet renewal program in Qantas’ history, which is bringing significant improvements for customers and career opportunities for our people.The A321XLR is a fantastic aircraft, which provides a more comfortable flight for customers and the longer range will in time give us the opportunity to explore more non-stop routes and operate them more efficiently. 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.”

A321XLR facts from final assembly line 

• Sections of the A321XLR have been built in specialist factories all over Europe including France, Spain Germany and the UK before being shipped to Airbus’ Finkenwerder factory in Hamburg for assembly.
• It takes around one month to assemble the major components of the aircraft – the fuselage, tail and wings – on the assembly line, before the aircraft’s engines are fitted and it is sent to the paint shop.
• The tail is painted prior to the rest of the aircraft, as it is often more complex than the remainder of the aircraft.

A321XLR facts 

• Qantas’ A321XLR are five metres longer than the outgoing 737s and will seat 197 passengers (20 Business seats and 177 Economy seats) – an increase of 13 per cent in total seat capacity with no reduction in space between seats and a 66 per cent increase in premium seats.
• The first aircraft to arrive, registration VH-OGA, will be called Great Ocean Road.
• The cabin has been designed by David Caon to maximise passenger comfort with no change to seat pitch and a slightly wider seat than the 737.
• 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 previous generation aircraft.
• Qantas employees have been invited to help name the new A321XLR fleet after Australians walks, rivers and roads as a nod to the iconic travel opportunities across Australia and the importance of connecting this vast landscape and beyond.