What It’s Like To Fly Qantas’ New A321XLR
Onboard Qantas’ first A321XLR passenger flight.
A new chapter is underway at Qantas, with the airline debuting its new Airbus A321XLR today, on its first-ever passenger flight. The milestone signals the beginning of a fleet renewal that will transform the way Qantas connects Australia and beyond, as the sleek new A321XLR gradually replaces aging Boeing 737s.
Qantas is also the first airline in the Asia Pacific to operate the A321XLR (XLR stands for extra long range), which can fly 3000 kilometres further than the 737, with a range of 8700 kilometres. The new planes also usher in a new level of onboard comfort, with wider Economy seats, larger windows, spacious overhead compartments, in-seat charging, and free WiFi.
Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson said the A321XLR debut represents a significant milestone in the airline's fleet renewal program.
“Investing in next generation aircraft is the most significant way we can elevate the travel experience for our customers and our people. We have already seen a significant improvement in customer satisfaction on our new A220s and Jetstar’s new aircraft.”
The first two jets, named Great Ocean Road (VH-OGA) and Outback Way (VH-OGB), entered commercial service on flights from Sydney to Perth and Melbourne today, after a celebratory first passenger flight for invited guests. Here’s what it’s like onboard the Qantas A321XLR.
Qantas’ First A321XLR Flight
After a brief celebration at the gate, it was time to board the first A321XLR flights from Sydney to Melbourne and back, which were naturally designated QF1321 and QF1322.
Boarding a brand-new plane is always a delight, and on the Qantas A321XLR, it is also somewhat familiar. That’s because the XLR calls home to the same seats found onboard QantasLink’s A220, which is great for consistency.
The Business cabin has more than doubled in size over the 737, with 20 chocolate leather recliners offering a passable 94cm (34in) seat pitch.
There is plenty of legroom, and you’ll also find a footrest and calfrest for added comfort. Unfortunately, the footrest is positioned quite high, making it uncomfortable for many to use. There is a storage nook in the centre console, which houses a wireless charger.
Economy Class offers an interesting green/grey fabric material with seats well-padded by domestic standards. Legroom is fine, but not groundbreaking, with standard seat pitch set at 76.2cm (30in), and width at 44.7cm (17.6in). There are also six extra legroom rows: 6, 7, 15, 16, 17 and 18.
Across both Business and Economy, the addition of a device holder is great, as is fast USB-A and USB-C charging at every seat. There’s also in-flight WiFi, but I struggled to get a useful connection and achieved a maximum 1.4 Mbps. That’s pretty poor when you consider the plane was only around 65% full, but it must be said that every passenger was probably uploading content.
During the flight, we’re served a light breakfast, and it’s announced that we will fly over VH-OGA’s namesake - The Great Ocean Road. Although it was quite cloudy down at 3,000 feet, the views were stunning, and it’s not every day you get to go on a sightseeing commercial jet flight.
About Qantas’ A321XLR
In May 2022, Qantas placed a landmark aircraft order that would reshape its fleet for the next decade - both by enhancing passenger comfort and delivering significant operational efficiencies. The deal included the ultra-long-range Airbus A350s for Project Sunrise, as well as the Airbus A321XLR and A220 narrowbody jets for Project Winton, Qantas’ domestic fleet renewal program.
Three years on, seven QantasLink A220s are now flying, and with Project Sunrise pushed back until late 2026, it’s the A321XLRs turn to take centre stage. These jets were originally expected to arrive in the second half of 2024, but were pushed out until July 2025, a relatively minor delay given the widespread aircraft production backlogs.
An interesting quirk in the initial configuration sees Qantas’ first three A321XLRs carry 200 passengers, thanks to an additional row of three Economy seats. That higher capacity is achieved by removing a bathroom, leaving just two toilets to serve 180 Economy passengers.
Qantas has 48 A321XLRs on order, including 16 aircraft configured for longer international routes. Those longer-range variants will feature seatback entertainment across both Economy and Business, and importantly, lie-flat Business Class seats.
