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Qantas will introduce its new Airbus A321XLR aircraft on routes between Sydney and Melbourne, as well as Sydney and Perth, starting in mid-September. The airline is the first in Oceania to operate this aircraft type. The A321XLR has a range of 5,400 miles (8,700 kilometers), which is over 1,860 miles (3,000 kilometers) longer than the Boeing 737. This increased range is expected to allow Qantas to consider new international routes to the Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia.
The first two A321XLRs delivered to Qantas are configured for domestic and short-haul international flights. These planes will initially be used on the two noted domestic routes but will gradually be introduced on other routes. Qantas faces competition from Virgin Australia and its own subsidiary Jetstar on these busy domestic services.
Qantas Chief Executive Officer Vanessa Hudson said: “Not only will the A321XLRs help us serve the corporate market travelling between Perth and the east coast of Australia, they will also allow us to expand flying on existing routes into South East Asia and open up new possibilities like Perth-India and Adelaide-Singapore."
