Qantas pilots have started training in preparation for the first Airbus A321XLR aircraft

Qantas pilots have started training in preparation for the first Airbus A321XLR aircraft to arrive in Australia next year.  As part of Qantas’ fleet renewal programme, 28 of the Airbus A321XLR aircraft have been ordered which will replace the Australian carrier's fleet of Boeing 737  jets over the next decade.

The A321XLR is the longest-range variant of the Airbus A320 family, which will allow Qantas to open up new non-stop routes that aren’t currently viable with its planes. Qantas says the new fleet will offer a more comfortable flying experience for customers with a quieter cabin, deliver more reliable operations and generate fewer emissions per seat than the aircraft they replace.

Inside Qantas A321XLR passengers will experience a wider economy seat than on the 737  planes, with extra comfortable seat cushioning.  The new planes feature the largest overhead bins of any single-aisle aircraft that allow for 60 per cent more bags and there is a sense of spaciousness in the long cabin with higher ceilings and large windows, and a wider cabin than the aircraft it is replacing.  

The new  A321XLR aircraft will be configured for 197 passengers across two cabins, with 20 Business seats in a 2-2 layout and 177 Economy seats in a 3-3 placement. Although, the first three Qantas A321XLRs will arrive configured with 180 Economy seats.  Plus Qantas is also installing fast, free  Wi-F to the aircraft, allowing all customers in-flight connectivity to stay connected across multiple devices, as well as the improved Qantas Entertainment App for streaming content to their own device.

Training

Ahead of the arrival of the first A321XLR, Qantas pilots have started training on a new CAE 7000XR Series A320 simulator that was shipped from Montreal, Canada, to Australia earlier in the year over a 34-day journey. The simulator is fitted with the latest technology and will be one of the few in the world fitted with a dual head-up display. The A320 simulator is based in the new Sydney Flight Training Centre that is expected to be fully operational with more flight simulators and training equipment to be added by the end of the year.

More than 240 Qantas pilots are expected to be trained on the A321XLR aircraft over the next three years, opening up new career pathways and promotional opportunities. Pilots will spend up to 60 hours in the new simulator as part of their broader training program, and then return each year for four recurrency training sessions. 

In addition, around 2,000 cabin crew will also be progressively trained on the new aircraft type as they enter the fleet.

.

Qantas’ A321XLR is five metres longer than the outgoing 737s and will be configured to seat 197 people (20 business, 177 economy) – a 13 per cent increase across the whole cabin with no reduction in space between seats and a 66 per cent increase in premium seats.

It can fly approximately 3,000km further than the 737 (at 8,700km) and opens up a wider range of direct domestic and short haul international routes (e.g. South East Asia, Pacific islands).

Qantas’ A321XLR will be powered by Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbo Fan engines (PW1100G-JM).

The A321XLR improves noise levels compared to previous generation aircraft.

On a per seat basis, the A321XLR is expected to burn less fuel than the 737 aircraft it replaces.

Qantas employees are helping name the new fleet of aircraft under the theme of Walks, Rivers and Roads as a nod to the iconic travel opportunities across Australia and the importance of connecting this vast landscape and beyond. The first aircraft to arrive will be called Great Ocean Road.

 Fact Sheet Qantas Group Fleet Renewal.