Qantas' New A321XLR

[cove]

We are in Perth so going to Sydney or Brisbane is quite different to Syd-Mel.

 

[moa999]

Qantas really need full recliner sleeper seats to avoid just matching Virgin seats.

The days of the lie-flat widebodies flying to/from Perth are over, other than positioning/ thru-Perth flights for 787s.

Maybe if Qantas get a 2nd batch of 321XLRs for Asian flying they might also appear for the same reason.

 

[markis10]

Little bit surprised by the interest in ultra long haul narrow body additions to the fleet, especially given the angst posters express about 737 transcon flights

 

[moa999]

Think it's more that it's the first new fleet type on the most common domestic routes (so ex A220s) in over 20 years.

 

[NZflygirl]

Little bit surprised by the interest in ultra long haul narrow body additions to the fleet, especially given the angst posters express about 737 transcon flights

I've got hope the seats are nicer than the 737. I notice a difference on NZs A320s compared to the 737s.
Mind you I also notice a difference on VA and like those better, but it's really just the hope!

 

[leesionn]

FlightRadar24 showing Qantas' first A321XLR scheduled to fly at 11am Hamburg time under AIB323C. Wonder if this might be the final test flight?

 

[moa999]

Wonder if this might be the final test flight?

Was a pretty short flight.

This site lists it as a 3rd flight - https://aviation.flights/aib/A320/12323/

Whereas it lists this 2nd flight for Jetstar 320N as a customer acceptance flight. (To be VH-A5D)

https://aviation.flights/aib/A320/12545

No idea on the reliability of that info

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The days of the lie-flat widebodies flying to/from Perth are over, other than positioning/ thru-Perth flights for 787s.

Maybe if Qantas get a 2nd batch of 321XLRs for Asian flying they might also appear for the same reason.

MEL seems to be pretty well supplied with 330s to PER? There seems to be at least 3 a day? (I checked for a tuesday and thursday)

 

[moa999]

MEL seems to be pretty well supplied with 330s to PER? There seems to be at least 3 a day? (I checked for a tuesday and thursday)

Was more of a 1-2 yr forward looking statement, once QF gets a decent number of 321XLRs, and the 332s are mostly refurbed to the new international config with IFE and six 332s leaving the fleet (exact timing unknown)
But it is gradually happening.

For 1-Jul for example
BNE-PER is already 5 737s
SYD-PER is 2 widebodies (787 int/ 332) and 6 737s
MEL-PER is 4 332s and 3 737s

 

[bussyboy]

Was more of a 1-2 yr forward looking statement, once QF gets a decent number of 321XLRs, and the 332s are mostly refurbed to the new international config with IFE and six 332s leaving the fleet (exact timing unknown)
But it is gradually happening.

For 1-Jul for example
BNE-PER is already 5 737s
SYD-PER is 2 widebodies (787 int/ 332) and 6 737s
MEL-PER is 4 332s and 3 737s

Sorry a bit off topic, but wasn't there a MEL-PER B787 flight too, or had that ceased?

 

[downgraded]

Sorry a bit off topic, but wasn't there a MEL-PER B787 flight too, or had that ceased?

QF 9/10?

 

[moa999]

Sorry a bit off topic, but wasn't there a MEL-PER B787 flight too, or had that ceased?

Was the case last year, but not this year.
The 3-4/wk in Aus winter to continue PER-FCO commences in SYD as QF5 which I think picked up in that summary.

 

[AIRwin]

Think that's only 3-4/wk in Aus winter to continue PER-FCO

QF5/6 originates/terminates in SYD not MEL

 

[elanshin]

Sorry a bit off topic, but wasn't there a MEL-PER B787 flight too, or had that ceased?

they cancelled that a little while ago. It was forming QF9/10 previously so that you could clear immigration in MEL. I think when they added the SYD - PER - FCO they changed it so it's part of SYD - PER instead.

 

[bussyboy]

Yeah, looked up myFlightRadar, I flew QF773 MEL-PER in J back in October 2024 - was great without all the immigration run-around as it was a positioning flight, not an international tag flight.

 

[exceladdict]

Was more of a 1-2 yr forward looking statement, once QF gets a decent number of 321XLRs, and the 332s are mostly refurbed to the new international config with IFE and six 332s leaving the fleet (exact timing unknown)
But it is gradually happening.

For 1-Jul for example
BNE-PER is already 5 737s
SYD-PER is 2 widebodies (787 int/ 332) and 6 737s
MEL-PER is 4 332s and 3 737s

Will depend on the frequency mix I guess. Will the uptick from a 737 vs the 321 cover the downguage from the 330? And theres also the 332s up to Singapore to consider, I doubt PER is home so they probably connect to/from something.

As someone who ends up in Y for work most of the time anyway I hope the increased frequencies helps bring down price or create more connection options.