Today marks the debut of QantasLink’s two new Airbus A220 aircraft, signaling a fresh chapter in domestic and regional travel for Australians.

The airline has welcomed the first pair out of 29 A220 jet aircraft into its fleet, initiating the gradual replacement of its longstanding Boeing 717s as part of the Qantas Group’s domestic fleet renewal initiative.

The maiden voyage, QF1266 from Melbourne to Canberra, embarked this morning. Additionally, the A220 will commence operations on select flights along the Melbourne-Brisbane route today.

Distinguished by its superior fuel efficiency compared to previous models, the A220 features an ultra-modern, luminous cabin design with expansive windows, ample overhead storage, specially crafted seats, and an enhanced sense of spaciousness, promising a more comfortable journey for passengers.

With nearly double the range of the 717s, the A220 enables travel between any two points within Australia and to various offshore destinations, opening up new route possibilities for the future.

QantasLink CEO Rachel Yangoyan said the A220 would change the way people travelled around the country.

“These next-generation aircraft are going to make a real difference for customers travelling across our network so it’s great to see it launch commercial flights from today,” Ms Yangoyan said.

“The A220 is more comfortable, offering a greater sense of space and fast and free Wi-Fi for every customer.

“The aircraft are also quieter and generate up to 25 per cent fewer carbon emissions, which is critical as we work towards our net zero target.

“We know many of our customers have been waiting for the opportunity to travel on the new aircraft, just as our QantasLink teams have been looking forward to flying them.

“We saw a spike in bookings on these routes when we identified them as the first A220 flights last week. It was a great response from many customers who clearly wanted to be among the first to experience our new A220.”

The third A220 is currently in production at Airbus’ Mirabel facility in Canada, set for delivery in June.Four more A220s are scheduled to be delivered by mid-2025. As more aircraft arrive, the A220 will serve on other established routes, including Melbourne-Hobart starting July, Melbourne-Coffs Harbour from October, and Melbourne-Launceston from November.

Notable features of the A220 experience include:

• Accommodation for 137 passengers across two cabins, featuring 10 Business seats arranged in a 2-2 configuration and 127 Economy seats in a 2-3 layout.
• Boasting the largest windows among single-aisle aircraft and a more spacious cabin environment.
• High-speed, complimentary Wi-Fi for connectivity, alongside an improved Qantas Entertainment App for content streaming on personal devices.
• Integrated personal device holders and USB A and C charging in both Economy and Business; additional wireless charging pads in Business.
• Enhanced comfort in Economy seating with added padding compared to the 717.
• Approximately 20% more overhead locker space for all passengers.
• Noise footprint reduction of up to 50% and a 25% decrease in carbon emissions.

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