Air TransportQantas orders 20 more Airbus A321XLRs, first A350-1000ULR in final assembly
Qantas Group has announced the purchase of 20 additional Airbus A321XLR aircraft, reinforcing its fleet renewal strategy and strengthening its domestic and international operations.
The Australian carrier confirmed that 16 of the jets will feature lie-flat Business seats, enhancing passenger comfort on medium-haul flights.
Most of the additional A321XLRs will be deployed on short- and medium-haul international routes, taking advantage of the aircraft’s extended range. Qantas expects its first two A321XLRs to enter service in September, becoming the first airline in the Asia-Pacific region to operate the type.
By June 2026, seven units will be flying in Qantas colors, while its low-cost arm Jetstar will take delivery of its first A321XLR in 2027 for international services.
“This year will see an acceleration of Qantas’ domestic fleet renewal and in the coming years we’ll take delivery of additional A321XLR aircraft fitted with lie-flat Business seats,” said Vanessa Hudson, Qantas Group CEO.
Project Sunrise
At the same time, Qantas is making progress with Project Sunrise, which will introduce nonstop flights from Sydney and Melbourne to London and New York using Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft from 2026.
The airline said that the first Sunrise A350 will enter the final assembly line in the coming months, with delivery scheduled for October 2026.
Qantas also reported solid financial results, including US$ 800 million in annual dividends, a 7% increase in cargo revenue, and stronger operational performance, with 82% of domestic flights departing on time — the best result since 2019.
In addition, the group invested more than US$ 100 million in sustainability initiatives, focusing on biofuels and carbon reduction.
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