Qantas’s first Airbus A220 for its QantasLink subsidiary has entered the final assembly stage, as the airline prepares to accept the type into its fleet.
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.
This will grow to seven of the type by the end of 2024 and the full 29 by 2027.
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.
It calls for the Airbus A220 to have 137 passengers in a two-cabin configuration with 10 Business seats and 127 seats in Economy.
These Airbus A220 aircraft will replace the existing Boeing 717 aircraft that are in the fleet. They will gradually replace QantasLink’s Boeing 717 fleet which operates 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.
Name that fleet in one
As production kicks off, the Qantas Group is calling on Australians to help name its fleet of new A220s, based around the theme ‘native wildlife’.
Australians can nominate up to six names via a dedicated page at qantas.com/a220name. A shortlist will then be released so the public can vote for their favourites before the final names are revealed, with the deadline of 8th August.
In Quotes
QantasLink CEO John Gissing said:
“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,” Mr Gissing said.
“It won’t be long until we need to paint the name on the side of these aircraft, and we want all Australians to help us choose what we call them.
“Our aircraft names have always celebrated what’s special about Australia, from its places, and pioneers to its natural wonders.
“Continuing that tradition, we’re naming our A220 fleet after Australia’s unique and rare wildlife.
“Whether it’s a frilled-neck lizard or feathertail glider, an echidna or emu, we want Australians to help choose some names that showcase some of our country’s favourite native animals, in addition to the one already on the tail, reflecting the diversity and colour of this wonderful place they call home.”
Building Project Winton
The A220s are part of Project Winton – the project that will enable Qantas to renew its single-aisle fleet, with Airbus A321XLR and Airbus A220s forming the backbone of the project.
These in turn will replace the existing Boeing 717 (derived from the McDonnell Douglas DC-9/MD-80/MD-90 family) and the Boeing 737 NextGen aircraft.
It’s a journey to get all these aircraft – but it seems that Qantas is set on its journey.
It just needs a name for its new toys.
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