Qantas has accelerated its fleet renewal programme with a firm order for 24 Airbus and Boeing widebodies as it looks to progressively replace its existing A380 and A330 aircraft.
The multi-billion dollar order is split between 12 Airbus A350-1000s, eight Boeing 787-10s and four Boeing 787-9s arriving from 2027 and into the next decade.
The airline group has also negotiated additional purchase right options, split evenly between both manufacturers, to ultimately replace its 10 A380s with A350s from around 2032 onwards.
Qantas’ A330 aircraft mostly operate on international flights to Asia and the United States as well as some domestic flights.
Replacing the A380
The longer range delivered by the 787 and A350 aircraft on order means they will be able to operate all the routes on the airline’s current international network, as well as open up new ones.
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said: “This is another multi-billion dollar investment in the national carrier and it’s great news for our customers and our people.
“It’s in addition to the 149 firm aircraft we still have on order to continue renewing the domestic fleet for Qantas and Jetstar, and for the non-stop Project Sunrise flights to London and New York.
“Both the 787 and A350, and the GE and Rolls Royce engines fitted to them, are thoroughly proven and extremely capable.
“These are generational decisions for this company. The aircraft will arrive over a decade or more and they’ll be part of the fleet for 20 years. They’ll unlock new routes and better travel experiences for customers, and new jobs and promotions for our people.”
Qantas’ A330 fleet
The average age of Qantas’ A330 fleet will be 21 years at the time the replacement program starts in FY27.
Aircraft scheduled to leave the Qantas fleet towards the end of the replacement programme will undergo a cabin refurbishment from FY25, including next-generation seats in the economy cabin.
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