Qantas orders 20 more Airbus A321XLR aircraft following record-breaking earnings
August 28, 2025
Australian flag carrier Qantas is reaffirming its commitment to the Airbus A321XLR with a new order for 20 of the type.
The latest order for Airbus’ long-haul narrowbody passenger jet, announced 28 August, comes just days after the airline took delivery of its second aircraft from an original order placed by the company in May 2022.
Coinciding with the announcement, the airline also revealed that earnings had reached record levels for the current financial year.
According to an airline statement, the new A321XLRs will begin arriving in 2028, while this latest order brings the airline’s total commitment to the type to 48 aircraft.
“The extended range of up to 5,438 miles (8,700 km) is more than 1,875 miles (3,000 km) further than the Boeing 737 it replaces and will enable Qantas to launch direct flights to destinations across Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands that are not currently viable,” says Qantas.
Additionally, in terms of this latest order, the airline has announced that 16 of the next batch of aircraft will feature a new international configuration featuring fully lie-flat business class seating for the first time.
The new planes will be used predominantly on both transcontinental and longer international routes from the airline’s main hubs at Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Perth.
A321XLRs to be used for network expansion
With the long range of these new aircraft, Qantas is eyeing new destinations for its network.
“These aircraft will be deployed for growth, but also on markets where we can drive either better frequency or better economics, because the aircraft has a capability, but also can deliver much better outcomes financially,” said Vanessa Hudson, Qantas Chief Executive Officer, during today’s earnings call.
Hudson highlighted that the XLR will enable Qantas to reach markets it currently doesn’t serve, suggesting links from Perth to India, Adelaide to Singapore, and destinations in Southeast Asia.
While she noted that the network is yet to be fully defined, there is also an important role for the new lie-flat seats to play in the domestic market.
“We know our corporate customers across Perth, particularly on late-night services, really value having that level of product and comfort to be able to sleep,” Hudson shared. “The introduction of the A321XRL is going to continue to enable us to support our corporate customers with what they value the most.”
It’s the perfect aircraft for Qantas, opening up longer, thinner routes that are currently unserved. Hudson noted the advantage also with connecting the XLR into the long-haul network and giving its business class passengers a consistent product across their journey.
The Airbus A321XLR is integral to Project Sunrise
Qantas’s Project Sunrise is the bold plan to launch the world’s longest non-stop commercial flights, directly linking Sydney and Melbourne with major global hubs such as London and New York.
Using specially configured Airbus A350-1000s fitted with extra fuel tanks and wellness-focused cabins, the flights are scheduled to begin in mid 2027. The arrival of the new order of premium-configured A321XLRs will feed directly into this.
“These aircraft will come online at the same time as Sunrise, so we will be able to connect Perth through Sydney onto Sunrise, potentially through into the US, but also vice versa,” Hudson noted.
Qantas’ fleet renewal is well underway
This latest order comes as the airline undergoes the largest fleet renewal programme in its history.
As well as the original order for 28 Airbus A321XLRs (in addition to another 12 that will be used exclusively by Qantas Group budget operator Jetstar), the airline also has 24 new Boeing 787s and 12 Airbus A350s on order.
The company is also currently receiving a new fleet of 20 Airbus A220, which are operated on regional routes by wholly-owned subsidiary QantasLink. Five of these aircraft have been delivered to date.
The aircraft from the original 2022 order for 28 A321XLRs are being delivered in a two-class configuration featuring 20 business and 180 economy class seats, which is aimed at domestic flying. The first two aircraft are planned to debut on domestic and short-haul international routes.
Both are expected to start operating commercial flights in mid-September 2025, making Qantas the first airline in the Asia Pacific to operate the variant of the popular A321 narrowbody.
Our first @Airbus #A321XLR gets its Qantas colours 🎨🖌️
— Qantas (@Qantas) February 26, 2025
Qantas will be one of the first airlines in the world to operate this next-generation aircraft as part of our historical fleet renewal program. pic.twitter.com/dhI24wEDAB
The aircraft are planned to initially operate on the Sydney to Melbourne and Sydney to Perth routes, but will be progressively rolled out on other routes.
By the end of the current financial year, Qantas is expecting to have received seven of the type. Jetstar’s A321XLRs will begin to arrive from 2027 and will be fitted with a two-class cabin to operate on international routes.
A record-breaking year for Qantas Group
Qantas’ announcement of its order for additional A321XLRs came as the carrier published record earnings for the 2024/2025 financial year.
The period saw underlying pre-tax profits rising to AU$2.39 billion ($1.56 billion) and statutory post-tax profits increasing to AU$1.61 billion ($1.05 billion). These figures represent increases of 15% and 28% over the previous financial year, respectively.
“While we are pleased with the progress we are making, we remain focused on further improving our performance and continuing to deliver for our customers, people, and shareholders,” said Hudson.
Hudson noted that Qantas and Jetstar carried four million more customers during the year, with one in three Jetstar customers travelling for under AU$100.
