As expected, Qantas has ordered an additional 20 Airbus A321XLR aircraft with lie-flat Business seats on its narrowbody aircraft for the first time.
The aircraft to be delivered from 2028 will be used both on transcontinental and medium-range international flights.
Sixteen of the aircraft will be configured with a premium layout including lie-flat Business seats, seatback entertainment screens, and fast Wi-Fi, tailored for the longer routes. The new configuration A321XLRs take Qantas’ total commitment for the type to 48 aircraft.
With a range of up to 8,700 kilometres—over 3,000 kilometres further than the Boeing 737s they replace—the XLRs will allow Qantas to operate new direct services into South East Asia and the Pacific Islands.
Qantas’ first two A321XLRs, are due to enter service in mid-September 2025. The aircraft will initially be deployed on the Sydney–Melbourne and Sydney–Perth routes, with further rollout to follow. By the end of this financial year, the airline expects to have seven A321XLRs in service.
See our review of the initial Qantas A321XLRs below.
Low-cost subsidiary Jetstar will begin receiving its own A321XLRs from 2027, configured with a two-class cabin for international leisure routes.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson described the order as a major milestone in the airline’s renewal program, which is already reshaping both customer experience and operating economics.
“Investing in new aircraft is one of the most significant ways that we can provide our customers with a better flying experience, and these billion-dollar investments are possible because of our continued strong financial performance,” Ms Hudson said.
Above: Jetblue lie-flat bed on the A321XLR. Credit JetBlue
“These additional A321XLRs will accelerate the retirement of our 737 fleet and open up new opportunities for domestic and international travel, allowing us to reach destinations that aren’t possible with our current narrowbody fleet.
“Not only will the A321XLRs help us serve the corporate market travelling between Perth and the east coast of Australia, they will also allow us to expand flying on existing routes into South East Asia and open up new possibilities like Perth–India and Adelaide–Singapore.”
Hudson added that the new cabins—with lie-flat Business seating, seatback entertainment and free Wi-Fi—will deliver a consistent premium experience for customers connecting from domestic flights onto long-haul services.
“All of the next generation aircraft joining our fleet benefit from longer range, more comfort, less noise, better economics and will improve how people travel around Australia and overseas. It also means we’re recruiting and training more pilots, cabin crew and engineers, creating opportunities for our people,” she said.
The Group’s total firm aircraft order now stands at 214 aircraft, with 32 delivered as at June 30, 2025. These include orders across Airbus and Boeing families for Qantas, Jetstar and Qantas Freight, with further purchase right options available for future flexibility.
Meanwhile, preparations for Project Sunrise are also advancing. The first Airbus A350-1000ULR is due to enter Airbus’ final assembly line in October 2025, with deliveries starting from October 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
