QantasLink, a subsidiary of the Qantas Group, put its first two Airbus A220-300s into commercial service on Friday.
The aircraft’s mission is to replace the Boeing 717s currently used on the airline’s domestic routes. Qantas has ordered 29 jets configured with 137 seats.
The first flight took place between Melbourne and Canberra and will be followed by the Melbourne-Brisbane route.
The A220 offers almost twice the range of the 717, as well as consuming less fuel.
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“These next-generation aircraft are going to make a real difference for customers traveling across our network so it’s great to see it launch commercial flights from today,” said Qantas CEO Rachel Yangoyan.
The A220 is more comfortable, offering a greater sense of space and fast and free Wi-Fi for every customer.”
The third A220 is currently in production at Airbus’ facility in Mirabel, Canada, and is due to be delivered in June. Another four A220s are scheduled to be delivered by mid-2025.
“As more aircraft are delivered, the A220 will be deployed across other existing routes including Melbourne-Hobart from July, Melbourne-Coffs Harbor from October and Melbourne-Launceston from November,” explained the carrier.
