Qantas Welcomes First of 28 A321XLRs – A Promising Leap Toward Fuel-Efficient, Long-Range Travel

Qantas’ First A321XLR En Route to Sydney

Following its official handover last week, Qantas’ first Airbus A321XLR, registered VH-OGA and named “Great Ocean Road”, has departed the Airbus facility in Hamburg, Germany. The aircraft is scheduled to arrive in Sydney on Wednesday morning, 2 July.

The delivery flight, QF6041, will travel from Hamburg to Bangkok, covering over 9,600 kilometres, making it the longest A321XLR flight by a commercial airline to date. From Bangkok, the aircraft will continue to Sydney, flying an additional 7,600 kilometres. The total journey spans approximately 42 hours, door-to-door, including 21 hours of flight time.

This aircraft is the first of 28 A321XLRs ordered by Qantas as part of its broader fleet renewal strategy. The delivery follows the successful completion of a customer acceptance flight last Tuesday.

Expanding Capabilities and Range

The A321XLR has a range of 8,700 kilometres (4,700 nautical miles), offering more flexibility on longer domestic and regional routes. It also introduces several updates for customer comfort and operational efficiency:

• Wider cabin than other narrowbody aircraft

• Increased baggage capacity

• More seats in both economy and business

• Larger windows, LED lighting, and higher ceilings in the cabin

Nearly 1,000 Qantas staff, including pilots, engineers, cabin crew, and ground operations teams, have been trained on the new aircraft type, completing more than 45,000 hours of preparation to date.

Supporting More Sustainable Operations

The A321XLR utilises modern materials and systems that help reduce fuel consumption and emissions per seat compared to previous-generation narrow-body aircraft. Its arrival contributes to Qantas’ broader goal of reducing its environmental impact over time.

Statement from Qantas Domestic CEO Markus Svensson:

“It has been exciting to be in Hamburg with our team to take delivery of our first A321XLR. Being the first operator of this aircraft in the Asia Pacific region is a key milestone for Qantas and reflects our continued investment in improving the customer experience.”