Qantas has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR following a record journey from Hamburg to Sydney, via Bangkok.
Qantas’ new aircraft, VH-OGA (‘Great Ocean Road’), flew from the Airbus facility in Germany via Thailand in what was the longest A321XLR flight operated by a commercial airline at more than 9,600 kilometres.
The plane, which boasts the longest range of any narrow-body jet, then flew 7,600 kilometres to Sydney Airport for a total journey time of 42 hours, including 21 hours in the air.
The new aircraft is the first of 28 A321XLRs Qantas has on order and represents “a pivotal step” in the carrier’s fleet renewal program.
Along with its longer range, the plane has more economy and business class seats, wider economy seats, 60 per cent more baggage space, larger windows and higher ceilings than the Boeing B737 aircraft it is replacing.
The new Airbus jet is also more fuel-efficient, thanks to lighter materials and better design.
According to Qantas, the new plane will open up new opportunities for the airline, which has trained almost 1,000 team members on the plane, including pilots, cabin crew, engineers, and ground staff.
“We are proud to be the first A321XLR operator in Asia Pacific and its arrival will mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Qantas and a significant step forward in enhancing the experience we offer our customers,” Qantas Domestic CEO Markus Svensson said.
Following its arrival in Sydney, the plane is already doing the rounds in other cities, with the new plane jetting off to Brisbane this morning.
For more info, visit www.qantas.com.
