Qantas’ Major Fleet Overhaul Update

Qantas, off the back of a substantial order for the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787, has outlined its upcoming plans to acquire new aircraft and how they’re tracking.

Beginning with its Qantaslink operations, as the group phases out its Boeing 717s, which have been operational for multiple decades, Airbus A220 aircraft will arrive by the end of this calendar year, specifically the first two units. However, future deliveries for the A220 per Qantas will be delayed as supply chain issues hamper manufacturers like Airbus.

Moving further north to Asia and with Jetstar Asia, the Qantas Group has announced that plans to add seven more mid-life A320 family aircraft are well underway, with the first expected to arrive by the end of the 2023 calendar year. The addition of mid-life Airbus aircraft should substantially aid Jetstar Asia in meeting demand and overall recovery.

Following Qantas’ commitment to flying, the expectation is that 22 previously announced E190s being wet-leased from Alliance Airlines will have all arrived by the end of the 2023 calendar year.

As for larger aircraft now, Qantas has announced that the first of its 12 Airbus A350-1000 ULRs designated to fulfil the requirements of Project Sunrise, which includes nonstop flights from the likes of Sydney and Melbourne to London and New York, should be delivered in FY26 with the remaining 12 to follow.

Freighter capacity will also grow substantially in the coming months as two more converted AIrbus A321 freighters will join the Qantas freight operation, adding to the existing commitments seen at the group and ones operational.

Qantas’ Australian low-cost arm Jetstar has been steadily acquiring Airbus A321LRs as part of its network growth plans, and Qantas Group says that the 18 A321LRs are expected to be delivered by the end of the 2024 calendar year. As for further aircraft, the expectation is 20 A321XLRs, which remains uncertified and further A321LRs will be delivered through 2029.

The Qantas Group will undergo in the coming decade a significant fleet revamp as almost every area of flying sees next-generation aircraft arrive.