Qantas will expand its A321XLR fleet from 2028, including plans to change the way the aircraft are used in its operations. The order update, shared last week as the first of its new single-aisle fleet prepares to enter service this month, calls for 20 additional aircraft to be delivered later in the decade. Of these, 16 will be configured for premium international travel, including lie-flat beds and in-seat entertainment screens.
The lie-flat Business seats, seat back screens and fast and free Wi-Fi will provide a consistent premium experience for our customers who fly domestically with Qantas and connect onto our long haul services.
– Vanessa Hudson, Qantas Group CEO
The XLR aircraft bring a significant range boost to the Qantas single-aisle fleet, roughly 3,000km extra compared to the 737s they’re replacing.
Initially, however, the planes will operate mostly transcon flights from Perth, plus fly to some nearby Pacific Islands destinations. That is driven, in part, by the decision to configure the planes with 20 premium seats in a 2-2 layout and 177 economy class seats* in a 3-3, relatively standard for a domestic config of the type. For comparison, Delta Air Lines configured its domestic A321neo aircraft 20/174 while Cathay Pacific is 12/190.
The “domestic” A321XLRs still include free high-speed Wi-Fi on board and power points. That is useful as entertainment is delivered via streaming to passenger devices; in the seatback the only content is Qantas magazine.
As the XLRs fly further afield, however, Qantas finds itself competing with a more full-service inflight experience. Or just with passengers who expect more. Either way, travelers should be sated by the improvements in the on-board experience.
The company teased routes connecting Perth to India or Adelaide to Singapore in the announcement. The latter is also operated by Singapore Airlines, with block times in the 6.5-7 hour range. Perth to India would likely add two hours to those trips, depending on which market is served. Delivering a more comfortable experience will be a key consideration for passengers.
The carrier did not reveal specifics about the cabin layout, but the changes are all about passenger comfort. Beyond the flat beds, embedded IFE screens offers a more complete entertainment experience. Passengers will be able to dual-screen on these planes, with the IFE system and their personal device, similar to the at-home experience.
It is also worth noting that most of the routes Qantas has teased so far could also be handled by the A321LR, raising questions about why the carrier favored the XLR instead. The team at Analytic Flying suggests this is driven in large part by belly cargo requirements, with the XLR offering capacity for two more LD-45 containers than the LRs.
*The first three planes will arrive with 180 economy class seats rather than 177
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