Qantas' New A321XLR

[Harrison_133]

Article behind paywall, but Qantas are adding 4 "mid-life" Boeing 737-800s to the fleet to help "boost capacity and counter delays in the arrival of new A321XLRs."

Allegedly, the -800s are ex SQ.

Source: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/bu...k=03e6c7f460c74a3d66666d73e8fa671f-1751005755

 

[Inlander]

Article behind paywall, but Qantas are adding 4 "mid-life" Boeing 737-800s to the fleet to help "boost capacity and counter delays in the arrival of new A321XLRs."

Allegedly, the -800s are ex SQ.

Source: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/bu...k=03e6c7f460c74a3d66666d73e8fa671f-1751005755

Yep, the backlog on deliveries from Airbus doesn't help things

 

[RooFlyer]

From that story (thanks)

Qantas has previously announced plans to refit 42 of its newer 737s with the same interior as new A321XLRs as part of a “fleet harmonisation” strategy.

Chief executive Vanessa Hudson has said passengers would not know the difference whether they were boarding an older 737-800 as opposed to a new XLR.

I'm not sure VH would have wanted to have it come out that way!

 

[DejaBrew]

I'm not sure VH would have wanted to have it come out that way!

Either doesn’t say much about the A321XLR fit out, or doesn’t say much about us as discerning customers capable of recognising one aircraft model from another.

 

[moa999]

but Qantas are adding 4 "mid-life" Boeing 737-800s to the fleet to help "boost capacity

Interesting. Airfleets currently lists SQ with 4 737-800s (9V-MGK to 9V-MGN. All 2015 deliveries.
They would therefore become QFs youngest 737s, given the current youngest VH-XZP (RR James Strong) is a 2014 delivery.

All the other older ex-SQ 737-800s have already been spoken for, with most ending up at VA, and a couple at Garuda via Rex.

This recent EF article suggests those four remaining SQ 737s will go by October 2025, so presumably could be refitted and repainted pretty quickly.

https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/singapore-airlines-business-class-news

-

Somewhat hilarious that a CEO who's been gone for over 18 months still gets mentioned in the first para (all click bait tactics)

 

[Saab34]

They should have done this years ago and turfed out those ancient early build 2000 737s.

Virgin seems to have been more proactive in sourcing mid life aircraft.

But no, they flog the equipment until it pretty much can’t fly no more. I was in one of those 25 year old 737s last week, absolute disgrace.

 

[SYD]

'uncompetitive' product.

Are you referring to the current widebody J seats? (and service). I wouldn't say they're un-competitive. They're better than QR J seats on the A380 and a bunch of 787s plus QR still have a lot of 2x2x2. Not to mention EK's 2x3x2!

 

[moa999]

should have done this years ago and turfed out those ancient early build 2000 737s.

The wonders of administration..get rid of all the contracts you don't want. if only you didn't have to cause every shareholder to lose their shirts

 

[RooFlyer]

Are you referring to the current widebody J seats?

sorry, no - just the whole Qantas experience long haul.

 

[SYD]

sorry, no - just the whole Qantas experience long haul.

Yes, they’re not the best but certainly not the worst. I actually like the QF seat (especially a proper window seat).

Post-Covid, the only bad QFi flight was an AY wet lease SIN-SYD (not the seat, I like it - but the service was nonexistent). In contrast to the QF1 flight up that was exceptional service.

Anyway, I do hope they do eventually have a subset of aircraft with a more premium J configuration and even a better whY (ie seat pitch) for those long thin routes.

 

[travellerqff]

Can anyone suggest a motivation for Qantas to install J lie flat beds on these aircraft? Serious question.

They won't install lie-flat

It’s not a matter of if, but when.

I was invited to a closed-door product trial at Qantas HQ in May where we tested 3 lie-flat seat designs (plus the new Recaro recliner) for a sub-fleet of A321XLRs. Qantas said one would be chosen for extended-range routes. Two are already flying elsewhere, the third was a new design they might be the launch customer for.

All had lie-flat beds, large screens, privacy doors, and decent storage. They didn’t say how many seats per aircraft, but it looked like a serious investment.

The motivation seems clear. Routes like SYD/MEL-DPS, PER–BLR, MRU, MLE, AKL/CHC or even a second daily SIN would benefit from a proper J product. Without it, they risk falling behind competitors already offering lie-flat on similar routes.

Unless of course it was just a tax write-off for some fancy seat testing. Hard to say.

 

[lovestotravel]

It’s not a matter of if, but when.

I was invited to a closed-door product trial at Qantas HQ in May where we tested 3 lie-flat seat designs (plus the new Recaro recliner) for a sub-fleet of A321XLRs. Qantas said one would be chosen for extended-range routes. Two are already flying elsewhere, the third was a new design they might be the launch customer for.

All had lie-flat beds, large screens, privacy doors, and decent storage. They didn’t say how many seats per aircraft, but it looked like a serious investment.

The motivation seems clear. Routes like SYD/MEL-DPS, PER–BLR, MRU, MLE, AKL/CHC or even a second daily SIN would benefit from a proper J product. Without it, they risk falling behind competitors already offering lie-flat on similar routes.

Unless of course it was just a tax write-off for some fancy seat testing. Hard to say.

I'll wait for an official announcement...

 

[eastwest101]

I'll wait for an official announcement...

And then it will be a matter of waiting the 5-10 years between an announcement and an actual seat on an aircraft being a reality.....

 

[SYD]

And then it will be a matter of waiting the 5-10 years between an announcement and an actual seat on an aircraft being a reality.....

Those follow-on aircraft are a few years down the track anyway, so it probably will be ~5yrs from decision to flying...

 

[RooFlyer]

I was invited to a closed-door product trial at Qantas HQ in May where we tested 3 lie-flat seat designs (plus the new Recaro recliner) for a sub-fleet of A321XLRs. Qantas said one would be chosen for extended-range routes. Two are already flying elsewhere, the third was a new design they might be the launch customer for.

Sounds a good reason. But I’m still sceptical.

 

[lovestotravel]

And then it will be a matter of waiting the 5-10 years between an announcement and an actual seat on an aircraft being a reality.....

With a few years of marketing and media spin

 

[Saab34]

When are the 737s expected to actually all go?

Is going to be the world’s longest fleet transition?

 

[moa999]

When are the 737s expected to actually all go?

Is going to be the world’s longest fleet transition?

As any transition of an airlines workhorse should be.

The youngest is only 10yo (VH-XZP delivered Nov-2014).
The 737-800s arrived over 13 yrs (early 2002- late 2014) and I wouldn't be surprised if the replacements are further spread. So XZP could be with us into the late 2030s.
And the rumoured four SQ aircraft are a year younger.