Australia's national airline, Qantas Group (QF), has received its first delivery of the next-generation Airbus A220, marking the 20th operator of this aircraft model. The post Qantas Takes the Delivery of First Airbus A220 appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
TOULOUSE- Australia’s national airline, Qantas Group (QF), has received its first delivery of the next-generation Airbus A220, marking the 20th operator of this aircraft model.
This plane is the first of 29 A220s that the Qantas Group has ordered for operation by QantasLink, its regional airline responsible for serving metropolitan and regional destinations across Australia.
Photo: Qantas
Qantas First Airbus A220
Adorned with a distinctive livery inspired by Aboriginal artwork, the aircraft is set to leave the Airbus final assembly line in Mirabel in the upcoming days for a delivery journey to Sydney, making stops in Vancouver, Honolulu, and Nadi.
The A220 is slated to replace the existing Boeing 717 fleet at QantasLink gradually. With the capability to fly twice the distance, the A220 enables non-stop connections between any two points across Australia.
Furthermore, it brings about a notable 25% reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions compared to previous-generation aircraft.
Photo: Airbus
Popular Narrowbody Jet
The A220 boasts the largest cabin, seats, and windows in its class, ensuring passengers experience superior comfort. Qantas’ A220s, equipped with a total of 137 seats, will feature a two-class layout accommodating 10 passengers in business class and 127 in economy.
Tailored for the 100-150 seat segment, the A220 stands out as the most modern airliner in its size category. Propelled by the latest Pratt & Whitney GTF
engines, it has a non-stop range of up to 3,450 nautical miles or 6,390 kilometers.
Aligned with Airbus’s commitment to sustainability, the A220, like all Airbus aircraft, is capable of operating with up to 50% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Airbus aims for all its aircraft to be capable of using 100% SAF by 2030.
With nearly 850 orders from 30 customers, over 300 A220s have been delivered worldwide.
Photo: Qantas
New A220 Livery
The next-generation QantasLink A220s are intended to gradually replace the current Boeing 717s operating on flights throughout Australia. With twice the range of the 717, the A220 is poised to introduce new domestic and short-haul international routes as additional aircraft join the fleet.
This marks the twelfth new aircraft delivered to the Group over the past 12 months, encompassing eight Airbus A321LR aircraft for Jetstar and three Boeing 787 Dreamliners for Qantas International.
Further deliveries, spanning various aircraft types, are anticipated in the next year, including the introduction of the first Airbus A321XLR for Qantas Domestic.
Over the last six months, the inaugural QantasLink A220 aircraft has taken shape at the Mirabel facility, with crucial components manufactured in various facilities worldwide, including wings sourced from the United Kingdom.
During a two-week period in the paintshop, a distinctive Aboriginal paint scheme was applied to the aircraft, making it the sixth addition to the national carrier’s enduring Flying Art Series.
Approximately 100 painters contributed to completing the livery, with the Airbus teams utilizing 130 stencils to replicate the intricate designs. Featuring over 20,000 dots, this livery stands as the most intricate design Airbus has ever executed for this aircraft type.
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The post Qantas Takes the Delivery of First Airbus A220 appeared first on Aviation A2Z.