Qantas has today announced an order for an additional 20 A-321XLR aircraft, including the introduction of lie-flat Business seats on its narrowbody aircraft for the first time.

The expansion of the Group’s largest ever fleet renewal program will see 16 of the 20 additional A-321XLRs configured with lie-flat Business seats and seat back entertainment screens to serve longer routes, including transcontinental services to and from Perth, and short and medium haul international routes.

The new configuration A-321XLRs will begin arriving in calendar year 2028, taking the airline’s total order for the next generation A-321XLR to 48 airplanes.

The extended range of up to 8,700 kilometres is more than 3,000 km further than the B-737 it replaces and will enable Qantas to launch direct flights to destinations across South East Asia and the Pacific Islands that are not currently viable.

Qantas’ first two A-321XLRs, which are configured for domestic and short haul international flying, are expected to start operating commercial flights in mid-September, making Qantas the first carrier in the Asia Pacific to operate this type. The plane will initially operate on Sydney-Melbourne and Sydney-Perth and be progressively rolled out on other routes. By the end of this financial year Qantas will have seven units.

Jetstar’s A-321XLRs will begin to arrive from calendar year 2027 and will be fitted with a two-class cabin to suit international travel.

The Group’s total firm aircraft order now stands at 214 ones, with 32 delivered as at June 30, representing a multi-billion dollar investment in renewing and growing Qantas and Jetstar’s fleet. In addition to these firm orders, the Group has additional purchase right options with Airbus and Boeing which provide flexibility for future growth.

The carrier took delivery of 17 new aircraft in FY25, this increases to 20 new planes arriving this financial year and 29 in FY27, including 36 for Qantas, 10 for Jetstar and 3 for Qantas Freight.

The first Project Sunrise A-350/1000ULR will move to Airbus’ final assembly line in October this year, with deliveries commencing from the same month of 2026 (Subject to receiving necessary regulatory approvals and certifications).

The introduction of new aircraft is already delivering significant improvements in customer satisfaction, as well as financial and fuel benefits for the Group.