Qantas is making a major upgrade to its fleet with the new Airbus A321XLR. This aircraft can fly much farther than most narrow-body planes. Because of this, Qantas can use it on longer domestic flights and new international routes that were not possible before.
Qantas already has four A321XLR aircraft in service and plans to receive a total of 48. These planes will slowly replace older Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The goal is to offer better comfort to passengers, lower fuel use, and open more routes with the right-sized plane.
This aircraft gives Qantas more freedom to serve routes with lower demand while still flying long distances. This means more direct flights for travelers and fewer stops on some routes.
First International Route: Brisbane to Manila
The first international route for the A321XLR will connect Brisbane Airport with Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
This flight is about 3,596 miles (5,787 km). It will be the longest route Qantas has flown with the A321XLR so far. The airline is replacing the larger Airbus A330 on this route with the A321XLR. Even though the new plane is smaller, Qantas will offer more flights, changing the service from five times a week to daily flights.
Daily schedule from October 25:
QF97: Brisbane → Manila
Departs 2:00 pm, arrives 8:05 pm (8h 5m)
QF98: Manila → Brisbane
Departs 9:30 pm, arrives 7:25 am (7h 55m)
This change gives travelers more choice and better travel times. It also helps Qantas use the right aircraft for this route, instead of flying a larger plane that may not always be full.
A321XLR on Domestic Routes
For now, the A321XLR is flying mainly within Australia. Qantas is using the aircraft between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth.
From May, Qantas will start flying the A321XLR between Brisbane and Perth Airport up to six times per week. This is one of the longest domestic flights in Australia for this type of aircraft.
In 2026, Qantas plans to use the A321XLR often on:
Sydney to Perth
Sydney to Brisbane
Sydney to Melbourne
These routes are part of Australia’s busiest travel area. Using the A321XLR helps Qantas offer more seats on busy days while saving fuel compared to larger planes.
Comfort and Cabin Experience
The Qantas A321XLR carries between 197 and 200 passengers, depending on the layout:
20 seats in business class
177 to 180 seats in economy class
The cabin is more modern than the older planes it replaces. Passengers can expect:
Brighter lighting
Larger windows
Bigger overhead bins for carry-on bags
On domestic flights, there are no screens on the seatbacks. Instead, passengers use their phones, tablets, or laptops to watch movies and shows through the Qantas app. Free Wi-Fi is available for messaging and light internet use.
Business Class
2 seats on each side (2–2 layout)
More legroom and wider seats
Better comfort for long flights
Economy Class
3 seats on each side (3–3 layout)
Standard legroom for short and medium flights
Slim seats to give more space for knees
What the A321XLR Means for Qantas’ Future Routes
The A321XLR gives Qantas the ability to fly longer routes with fewer seats. This makes it easier to test new routes without using large planes. It also allows the airline to offer direct flights from cities that do not have enough demand for wide-body aircraft.
In the future, Qantas could use this plane on routes such as:
Sydney to Hong Kong, Bangkok, or Phnom Penh
Melbourne to Phuket or Kuala Lumpur
Brisbane to Tokyo or Jakarta
Perth to Colombo or Bangalore
These routes show how the A321XLR can help Qantas grow across Asia and the Pacific with more direct flights and better choices for travelers.