Boeing 717 Replacement On the Way for Regional Subsidiary

Australia flag carrier Qantas took delivery of its very first modern A220, one of 29 on order.

The delivery makes it the 20th operator of the type. The aircraft are expected to be put to use in Qantas Group's QantasLink operation, a regional airline serving metropolitan and regional destinations across Australia. The new regional's livery will sport Aboriginal artwork across the fleet, providing strong brand identity and helping differentiate them from the aged Boeing 717 fleet currently operated there. QantasLink is excited about the quantitative improvement in performance offered by the A220, allowing nonstop flights between any two points on the continent at a 25% fuel reduction.

The new purchase should help bolster Qantas goals to make the jump to SAF across the board, with the carrier hoping for all its fleets to be capable of flying on pure SAF by 2030. The reductions in carbon emissions are, as always, another bragging point here. The carrier recently took aim at an Australian Government Green Paper regarding industry emissions, stating that the country needs to establish more domestic SAF production. The country remains in the lingering aftereffects of the post-COVID economy, and Qantas believes the best way to bolster employment is to kickstart new production facilities and career tracks right at home.

Now in Qantas hands, the aircraft will depart the Airbus final assembly line in Mirabel, France for a delivery flight to Sydney, with stops in Vancouver, Honolulu and Nadi along the way.

FMI: www.qantas.com