Qantas adds 10 jets to its order and will take 36 A321XLR

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Australian Qantas Airways Ltd. announced on Wednesday that it was going to order 10 Airbus SE A321XLR aircraft, bringing its total orders for the A320neo family to 109 aircraft.

As part of the transaction, 36 jet aircraft will be the new long-range A321XLR model, the airline said.

The A321XLR jets, which are to be delivered from mid-2024, have a range of 4,700 nautical miles that will allow Qantas or its low-cost Jetstar arm to perform longer-term flights in jets. narrow body.

"It can take routes like Cairns-Tokyo or Melbourne-Singapore, which the existing narrow entities can not do, which alters the economic data of many potential routes to Asia, so as to make them not only physically possible, but also financially attractive, "said the managing director of Qantas. Alan Joyce said in a statement.

Jetstar operates a fleet of A320 aircraft, but Qantas is using its competitor Boeing 737. Joyce said the A321XLR had many potential uses on both airlines and that it would decide closer to the date on which they will be deployed and whether they would be used for growth purposes or. to replace older jets.

Jetstar is scheduled to receive 18 A321LR jets from 2020 to 2022 and plans to deploy them on national and international routes.

The additional 10 jets are valued at more than $ 1 billion at Airbus' list prices, although airlines generally benefit from substantial discounts.

Qantas stated that it has retained flexibility in the timing and structure of deliveries based on market conditions.

Qantas is expected to decide next year to replace its 75,737 aircraft, which form the backbone of its national fleet, Joyce said in February.

Competitors include the A320neo family, the 737 MAX and Boeing's new mid-size aircraft.