Qantas Group announced the first destinations where it will operate its new Airbus A220-300. Additionally, it reported the acquisition of eight additional Airbus A321XLRs, which will be added to the existing order of 20 aircraft of this model.
The Australian group also revealed its plans to expand the free Wi-Fi service across its international fleet.
Programming of the A220-300
Qantas Group has received the first two Airbus A220-300 aircraft, out of a total of 29 ordered for QantasLink, gradually replacing the Boeing 717s.
The A220 will serve destinations such as Melbourne, Hobart, Brisbane, Canberra, Coffs Harbour, and Launceston. With a range of 6,700 kilometers, double the range of the 717s, the A220 can fly non-stop from any airport in Australia, reaching destinations offshore. This will enable QantasLink to create new routes in the future.
The new aircraft have a capacity of up to 137 passengers in two cabins: 10 in business class and 127 in economy. The A220 features the largest windows in the single-aisle segment, providing a sense of spaciousness in its cabin.
QantasLink customers will be able to connect to Wi-Fi at no cost, providing access to their social networks and Qantas’ onboard entertainment app.
All seats come with integrated supports for personal devices and USB A and C charging ports. As an added feature in the business cabin, each seat has a wireless charging pad.
The first flights operated with the A220 are already on sale to fly from March 1st onwards. The aircraft will be based at Melbourne International Airport (MEL), with Canberra (CBR) and Brisbane (BNE) as the first two destinations.
Starting from July 2024, the route between Melbourne and Hobart (HBA) will be added, and from November of the same year, flights to Coffs Harbour (CFS) and Launceston (LST) will also be included.
More A321XLRs
The Group confirmed the acquisition of eight additional Airbus A321XLRs for Qantas Domestic. This brings the total number of A321XLRs for Qantas to 28, with the first delivery scheduled for early 2025.
The A321XLRs will have a capacity for 200 passengers, 20 in Business and 180 in Economy, representing an increase of up to 15 percent in capacity without reducing seat spacing.
Wi-Fi on International Flights
Qantas will equip its long-haul fleet with high-speed complimentary Wi-Fi. The service will be gradually introduced starting from the end of 2024.
The expansion of onboard Wi-Fi for the international fleet was postponed until satellite technology could provide a connection quality similar to what Qantas customers experience when traveling domestically.
Qantas will offer complimentary international Wi-Fi with sufficient bandwidth for all passengers to enjoy a fast and consistent connection.
The service will leverage the latest technology from global broadband services provider Viasat, offering passengers the ability to watch movies, TV shows, latest news bulletins, and live sports.
The A330, B787, and A380 fleets of Qantas will be progressively modernized to enable connection to Viasat’s next-generation satellite network. The installation of the new equipment will begin from 2025.
The recently ordered A350s and B787s will come with onboard Wi-Fi service directly from the factory. Jetstar will introduce onboard Wi-Fi to its wide-body international fleet from 2026, as part of the Boeing 787 cabin renovation.
