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Qantas opens bookings for first commercial Airbus A321XLR flights

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Qantas opens bookings for first commercial Airbus A321XLR flights
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Webp markussvensson
Markus Svensson, Chief Executive Officer of Qantas Domestic | Official Website

Qantas has opened bookings for its first commercial flights using the new Airbus A321XLR aircraft. The airline will begin operating these flights in less than two weeks, with the initial services connecting Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport to Melbourne and Perth.

The inaugural flight, QF645, is scheduled to depart Sydney at 10:35 on September 25 and arrive in Perth at 13:35 local time. The return service, QF650, will leave Perth at 14:35 and reach Sydney at 20:40. Another A321XLR will operate between Sydney and Melbourne as QF467 and QF484.

Markus Svensson, Chief Executive Officer of Qantas Domestic, said: "These next-generation aircraft mark an exciting new chapter for Qantas. We know many of our customers have been waiting for the opportunity to fly on board these new aircraft, just as our teams have been looking forward to flying them."

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Currently, Qantas has two Airbus A321XLRs in its fleet. Both are less than a year old and named 'Great Ocean Road' (VH-OGA) and 'Outback Way' (VH-OGB). A third aircraft named 'Seven Peaks Walk' is expected to be delivered in November after rolling out from Hamburg's paint shop this month. By the end of the year, Qantas expects to have seven A321XLRs in operation.

The airline has placed orders for a total of 48 Airbus A321XLRs. This includes an additional order of 20 jets made last month. Of these future deliveries, 16 will be configured for longer international routes with lie-flat business class seats.

Qantas describes the Airbus A321XLR as a significant upgrade over its Boeing 737-800 narrowbody fleet. The new aircraft can fly about 3,000 kilometers further than the older model and offers more overhead bin space—about 60% more—while increasing total seat capacity by 13%. There are now spaces for up to 197 passengers per flight with room for 20 guests in business class—a rise of 66% compared to previous models.

The cabins also feature fast and free WiFi along with larger windows. According to Qantas, the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM engines help reduce noise levels and carbon emissions per seat compared to earlier aircraft.

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