The Qantas Group has placed a firm order for 24 aircraft to progressively replace its existing A330s as part of its jet fleet renewal programme.
The multi-billion dollar order is split between 12 Airbus A350s and 12 Boeing 787s arriving from FY27 into the next decade. Qantas has also negotiated additional purchase right options, split evenly between both manufacturers, to give flexibility for future growth and ultimately replace its 10 A380s with A350s from around FY32 onwards.
Qantas’ A330 aircraft mostly operate on international flights to Asia and the US as well as some domestic flights. 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.
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.
In addition, as part of the deal with both Airbus and Boeing, Qantas will secure access to up to 500 million litres of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) per annum that would start to flow from 2028 – with the potential to meet up to 90 per cent of the group’s interim SAF target for 2030.
Access to these supplies will be enabled by partnering with Boeing and Airbus on SAF projects, and Qantas expects to purchase the SAF at favourable prices due to supportive government policies in the US.
Qantas has also previously announced a A$400 million (US$256.4 million) climate fund aimed at investing in similar projects locally to help kickstart a domestic SAF industry in Australia.
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said: “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.”
“This deal gives the Qantas Group access to sustainable aviation fuel supplies out of the US, making us one of the first airlines in the world to have a pathway to achieving our 2030 SAF targets,” added CEO designate Vanessa Hudson.
