Qantas says the arrival of its new Airbus A321XLR aircraft, which will gradually become the domestic workhorse of its fleet, will enable it to unlock new destinations for nonstop flights.
The Flying Kangaroo today pulled back the curtain to reveal the new cabin experience for travellers flying on its new short-range aircraft ahead of the first of 28 planes arriving in Apr next year.
Personal space is the defining feature of the new cabin, with travellers able to enjoy a 17.6 inch seat width, bigger than its existing fleet of Boeing 737s. Seats will feature a thicker cushion and a six-way adjustable headrest and adjustable meal table.
Travellers will be able to keep their devices charged with dual USB-A and USB-C outlets at each seat, along with a drop-down tablet holder which will be able to connect to fast, free onboard wi-fi and an enhanced range of inflight entertainment.
Domestic cabin specifications for the new aircraft will be a two-class layout, with 20 business class seats in rows of two followed by 177 economy class seats laid out in a 3-3 format.
Redesigned overhead bins will allow for a 60% capacity increase compared to the Boeing 737 fleet gradually being replaced.
The aircraft will be able to fly approximately 3,000km further than the 737 and will also generate fewer carbon emissions per seat, allowing Qantas to open new short-haul international routes across Asia and the Pacific.
“Qantas will be one of the first airlines in the world to operate the A321XLR and ahead of the arrival of our first aircraft next year, we’ve started pilot training and finalised the details of the customer experience,” said Qantas CEO, Vanessa Hudson.
“Nearly half of all the customers Qantas carries each year travel on our 737 fleet so the A321XLR aircraft that we’ve ordered to replace them will be incredibly important for our future.”
