Qantas will reveal its new Airbus A220-300 aircraft on Thursday, as the group continues its domestic fleet renewal program. While having received the keys to their first A220 in December of last year, Qantas has been busy training staff and completing regulatory approvals in order to let passengers onboard their latest jet.
As of February 8th, Qantas has completed its final proving flight with CASA, the body that governs what can and can’t happen in the air. Those flights involved a range of tests for cabin crew and pilots, including dealing with an onboard fire, and mechanical issues requiring a diversion.
With final approval expected as soon as next week, QantasLink’s first and specially painted A220 will be on display for family and friends on February 18th, with a February 22nd public reveal. That date was strategically chosen, as it’s also the first financial results presentation delivered by CEO Vanessa Hudson, who took over from Alan Joyce in September 2023.
But Thursday’s event isn’t just a chance for photos – Qantas will fly select executives, media and top-tier frequent flyers on QantasLink’s first A220 passenger flight. As it stands, QF6215 will depart from Sydney at 1:30pm, touching down at Uluru’s Ayers Rock Airport around 3:30pm. It’s the first time A220 ‘Minyma Kutjara Tjukurpa’ will visit the heart of Australia, in recognition of Pitjantjatjara artist Maringka Baker whose artworks inspired VH-X4A’s striking livery.
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Qantas A220’s To Fly Passengers From March
Beyond the press flight, Qantas Operations tells Flight Hacks that QantasLink’s commercial A220 flying is scheduled to take wing from March 1st. Services between Canberra and Melbourne are first to the skies, followed by those between Canberra and Brisbane.
QantasLink A220’s will eventually be deployed to connect ‘Golden Triangle’ destinations in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney with Canberra and Hobart. As the fleet continues to expand, Qantas will make use of the jet’s impressive 6,300km range, double the endurance of the B717 it replaces. That means we could see A220’s operating between Brisbane and Perth, Adelaide up into north Queensland and even from regional cities to New Zealand and a large portion of South-East Asia.
Although with just two A220’s delivered at the time commercial flights begin, QantasLink will simply swap out the aging Boeing 717 with its modern replacement. If you’re booked on a 717 between Canberra and Melbourne, there’s a chance you’ll find yourself on Qantas’ newest plane.
For the AvGeeks reading, Qantas Operations has shared with Flight Hacks the A220 schedule for the first two weeks of March 2024. While you won’t yet see the A220 listed on Qantas’ booking engine, we expect to see the B717 subbed out before flights begin.
Bracketed dates indicate the March 2024 date when A220’s replace B717’s (A220 flights are subject to change);
Melbourne to Canberra;
- QF1260, 6:05am – 7:10am (4-5-6-7-8-11-12-13-14)
- QF1264, 8:05am – 9:10am (3-10)
- QF1266, 10:00am – 11:05am (1 to 14)
- QF1268, 12:10pm – 1:15pm (1 to 14)
- QF1272, 4:20pm – 5:25pm (3-4-5-10-11-12)
- QF1274, 4:50pm – 5:55pm (1-6-7-8-13-14)
Canberra to Melbourne;
- QF1263, 7:50am – 9:00am (4-5-6-7-8-11-12-13-14)
- QF1267, 9:50am – 11:00am (3-10)
- QF1269, 11:45am – 12:55pm (1 to 14)
- QF1271, 1:55pm – 3:05pm (1 to 14)
- QF1277, 6:05pm – 7:15pm (3-4-5-10-11-12)
- QF1279, 6:35pm – 7:45pm (1-6-7-8-13-14)
Cleaners Leak QantasLink A220 Cabin Photos
A spokesperson for Qantas declined to confirm A220 specifics ahead of the inaugural flight. However, leaks continue to pop up from cabin crew and even Qantas’ cleaning provider, Cabin Services Australia, who accidentally shared an image to social media of the new cabin.
QantasLink’s A220 will accommodate 137 passengers, with 10 of those in Business Class, staggered with two rows on the left, lettered A/C, and three rows on the right, lettered D/F. Because the Red Roo has squeezed in an extra row, the 127-seat economy cabin is also staggered. The good news is that the small jet boasts a 2-3 configuration in economy, meaning there are only twenty-five middle seats onboard the entire plane. On the port side, there are twenty-six rows of A/C seats, with the first six rows offering extra legroom. Across the aisle, there are twenty-five rows of D/E/F seats, all of which have standard legroom.
As far as the seats themselves, leaked details reveal the A220 is fitted with an upgraded and customised version of Recaro’s BL3710 product. These are the same seats that Qantas’ budget arm Jetstar has installed on their A321neo fleet. Unlike Jetstar, Qantas has chosen a charcoal fabric finish with a leather headrest. As far as inflight comfort, the seats are the same 18” wide as is onboard the B717, although a pitch/legroom figure is yet to be disclosed. On the seatback, we find a drop-down tablet holder and both USB-A and USB-C charging.
That tablet holder will prove a vital upgrade, with Qantas having chosen not to fit seatback video screens to the Airbus A220, despite the possibility of flights up to 7 hours. Instead, streaming to passengers’ own devices will be offered like is currently available on most domestic flights. Qantas will also offer free WiFi onboard the A220.
At the pointy end, Qantas has installed the Recaro CL4710. The finish is similar to the brown leather found in Qantas’ domestic Boeing 737 workhorse. With 23.94” width and a 5” recline, the new seats appear to lack any significant comfort increase. Like the 737, the new seats come with calfrests, but add footrests that fold down from the seat in front.
Again, there are no seatback screens, but device holders and USB-A as well as USB-C charging are installed. The centre console adds additional storage space for a water bottle at the front, with more space beside your leg and even a wireless charging pad.
Qantas Won’t Fit Seatback Screens To A220
We already know that Qantas’ optional extras form doesn’t include in-flight entertainment (IFE) screens on their A220, but just how much of a difference will this cost-cutting actually make?
When you consider how much Qantas has pushed the idea of their new short-to-medium-haul jets unlocking new international routes that don’t quite have the demand for a larger aircraft, the lack of seatback screens could be a real annoyance for passengers. After all, these runs through the Pacific and even up into South-East Asia could mean upwards of 7 hours in the air.
Of course, QantasLink 717s don’t feature seatback screens, but they also have only half the range of the A220. Several European carriers have also opted out of IFE screens, including Air Baltic, Air France, and Swiss, but their flights are generally shorter than those planned by QantasLink. Conversely, Delta and JetBlue, which operate longer A220 routes, offer video screens to enhance passenger comfort.
While also a weight decision to increase fuel efficiency and reduce operating costs per flight, the lack of screens also makes for one less thing that has to be repaired. For the typically short regional routes, it’s not too much of an issue, but once international flights begin, it’s not exactly the ‘full-service experience’ that Qantas likes to think they deliver.
QantasLink A220’s Named After Australian Wildlife
Last year, Qantas opened its email inbox for the Australian public to suggest the names featured on its new A220 fleet, with the theme of Australian wildlife. Sadly, suggestions like ‘Drop Bear’ and ‘Blobfish’ didn’t make the final cut.
Following more than 6,000 submissions, Qantas confirmed the following ten names for aircrafts #2 to #11. Additional names will be revealed as more aircraft are delivered in the coming years. The first jets will be named;
- Koala
- Little red flying-fox
- Tasmanian devil
- Sugar glider
- Platypus
- Rainbow lorikeet
- Crimson rosella
- Whale shark
- Echidna
- Wedge-tailed eagle
The first A220, registered VH-X4A, has already been named ‘Minyma Kutjara Tjukurpa’, having been painted in a green Flying Art Series with livery.
