LAST weekend saw the first of 38 new NEO jets touch down in Melbourne, with the significantly more sustainable planes set to operating on popular Jetstar routes from early September.
Advantages of the aircraft refresh are multifaceted, with the planes being 15% more fuel efficient than the airline’s current fleet of A320 aircraft, while they are also 50% quieter than older models, and can fly up to 1,200 kilometers further.
Jetstar Group CEO Gareth Evans said the arrival of the A321LR last week was one of the most exciting developments to happen to the carrier in its 18-year history.
“The A321LR burns significantly less fuel than previous generation aircraft, and advanced weather detection technology will enable our pilots to plot smoother and more fuel-efficient flight paths,” he said.
“That translates to a saving of 1.2 million kilograms of fuel annually – a reduction of almost 4,000 tonnes of emissions, or the equivalent of removing 1,500 cars from the road each year,” Evans added.
A further eight A321LRs will be delivered between August 2022 and May 2023, while a further 20 A321XLR aircraft will arrive between 2024 and 2029, providing Jetstar with an even longer range of narrow-body flying.
