Construction has commenced on the the Qantas Group's first Airbus A220 aircraft, marking a key milestone for the Group as its fleet renewal programme ramps up.
The aircraft's major airframe components, including the centre and rear fuselage, are coming together at Airbus' production facility in Mirabel, Canada, with the first of 29 aircraft expected to arrive in Australia before the end of the year. As the first A220 to be operated in Australia, the aircraft will undergo regulatory approvals, airport readiness and training activities before it joins the QantasLink fleet in early 2024. QantasLink has also commenced training its pilots to operate the new aircraft.
The next generation A220s will gradually replace QantasLink's Boeing 717 fleet which operate routes across Australia.
The first QantasLink A220 will operate flights between Melbourne and Canberra, with subsequent aircraft to be deployed to other parts of the regional and domestic network. With double the range of the 717, the A220 is also expected to open up new domestic and short-haul international routes as more aircraft enter the fleet.
QantasLink CEO John Gissing said the production milestone marked an important step in the renewal of the airline's fleet.
“The A220 represents the next generation in our domestic fleet in terms of passenger comfort, aircraft range and opportunities for our people, so seeing the first aircraft starting to take shape is incredibly exciting,” Gissing added.
The Qantas Group has ordered 29 Airbus A220s, with purchase right options for more, as part of its Project Winton fleet renewal programme of up to 299 new aircraft to replace and grow its narrow-body fleet. This significant investment will see the Group take delivery of a new aircraft every three weeks on average for the next few years.
