Qantas Group announced the commencement of the construction of its first Airbus A220 aircraft. According to the company, this milestone is a crucial part of its fleet renewal program.
QantasLink, a regional branch of Qantas Group, revealed that the production of the Airbus A220 is taking place at Airbus’ facility in Mirabel, Canada. The major airframe components, including the centre and rear fuselage, have started assembly. The first of the 29 ordered aircraft is expected to arrive in Australia before the year’s end, marking it as the inaugural A220 to be operated in the country.
In preparation for the arrival, QantasLink has begun the process of obtaining regulatory approvals, preparing airport readiness, and commencing pilot training for the new aircraft. QantasLink pilots are currently being trained to operate the A220s, which are slated to join the fleet by early 2024.
According to Qantas, the A220 aircraft will gradually replace QantasLink’s existing Boeing 717 fleet, which operates routes across Australia. The company has highlighted that the new Airbus A220s possess double the range of the 717s, paving the way for new domestic and short-haul international routes as more A220s join the fleet.
The first A220 flight is set to operate between Melbourne and Canberra. Subsequent aircraft will be deployed to other parts of the regional and domestic network.
To foster national pride and engagement, Qantas Group has also initiated a competition to name its new A220 fleet based on the theme ‘native wildlife’. Australians are being invited to suggest up to six names through a dedicated page on the company’s website. After compiling a shortlist, the public will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite names. The final names will be announced subsequently. This follows a similar successful initiative by Qantas in 2017 to name its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, which received over 10,000 submissions.
QantasLink CEO, John Gissing, underscored the importance of this development, stating, “The A220 represents the next generation in our domestic fleet in terms of passenger comfort, aircraft range and opportunities for our people. Seeing the first aircraft starting to take shape is incredibly exciting.”
The QantasLink A220 will seat 137 passengers in a two-cabin configuration with 10 Business seats and 127 seats in Economy. These aircraft will primarily connect smaller capital cities like Canberra and Hobart, with major hubs in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. With an impressive range of over 6,000 kilometres, the A220 can fly between any city in Australia, showcasing its potential for a wider network.
This Airbus order forms part of Qantas’ ambitious Project Winton fleet renewal program, aiming to replace and grow its narrowbody fleet with up to 299 new aircraft. With an average delivery schedule of one new aircraft every three weeks over the next few years, seven A220s are projected to be in service by the end of 2024, increasing to a total of 29 aircraft by 2027.
To suggest names for the new QantasLink A220 fleet, visit qantas.com/a220name by 8 August 2023.
