Aviation
Airbus wins order to renew Qantas fleet in blow to Boeing
- Airbus A320neo and Airbus A220 families selected as preferred aircraft types.
- In-principle agreement for up to 134 orders and purchase right options over 10 plus years with deliveries from FY24 onwards.
- Combines with existing Jetstar order to give the Qantas Group significant flexibility on timing and aircraft type/size.
- Order is expected to be finalised by the end of FY22.
Qantas has selected the Airbus A320neo and Airbus A220 families as the preferred aircraft for the long-term renewal of its domestic narrow-body fleet.
A firm commitment for 40 aircraft – 20 A321XLR (extra long-range) and 20 A220 aircraft – is expected to be placed with Airbus by the end of FY22, following discussions with employees about arrangements to operate the new aircraft types and a final decision by the Qantas Board.
Qantas will also have a further 94 purchase right options[1] on aircraft over a 10-plus year delivery window as its existing Boeing 737-800s and 717s are gradually phased out.
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The order is in addition to Jetstar’s existing agreement with Airbus for over 100 aircraft in the A320neo family. Part of this new deal includes combining these two orders so that the Group can draw down on a total of 299 deliveries across both the A320 and A220 families as needed over the next decade and beyond for Qantas, QantasLink and Jetstar.
Once finalised, this will represent the largest aircraft order in Australian aviation history.
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Financial details of the deal are commercial in confidence but represent a material discount from list prices.
Today’s announcement follows a detailed review by the airline’s engineering, flight operations, customer experience, network, fleet procurement and finance teams. The airline conducted detailed evaluation of the A320neo and B737 MAX families as well as the smaller A220 and Embraer E190/195-E2s.
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AIRCRAFT SPECIFICATIONS
Note: Aircraft information has been sourced from manufacturers’ websites. Specifications are indicative only and not reflective of the specifications of any potential aircraft order by Qantas.
Airbus A320 family
- Includes the Airbus A320neo and A321neo
- A320neo seats – from 150 to 180 for a two-class configuration. 6,300km range
- A321neo seats – from 180 to 220 for a two-class configuration. 7,400km range
- A321XLR seats – from 180 to 220 for a two-class configuration. 8,700km range
- The A320neo family offers fuel improvements of 14 per cent from A320ceos
- 50 per cent quieter than the A320ceos
- Pratt & Whitney GTF™ (PW1100G-JM) engines
Qantas’ Boeing 787 flight from Buenos Aires will be one of its longest.
Airbus A220
- Specifically designed for the 100-150 seat market
- More than 20 per cent lower fuel burn per seat than B717s, half the noise footprint, and decreased emissions
- Up to 6,390km range
- Pratt & Whitney GTF™ (PW1500G) engines
[1] Purchase right options provide the Qantas Group with a firm price and preferred access to delivery slots with
flexibility to match deliveries to demand.
Aviation
Airbus Plans Cockpit Toilet to Make Single-Pilot Operations a Reality
In a bold move aimed at cutting costs, Airbus is exploring the possibility of installing a potty-style toilet right behind the Captain’s seat on its A350 long-haul aircraft. According to the reports from paddleyourownkanoo.com
This proposal is part of the ongoing effort to implement Extended Minimum Crew Operations (eMCO), a concept that could revolutionize the aviation industry by reducing the number of pilots required on ultra-long-haul flights.
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Currently, on long flights, two pilots stay in the cockpit while the others rest in a separate compartment. However, under eMCO, one pilot could be alone in the cockpit for up to three hours while the other sleeps. The goal is to reduce crew costs and improve airline efficiency, as fewer pilots would be needed for these flights.
But this proposal has raised concerns from pilot unions, who worry about safety and the challenges of single-pilot operations. To address the issue of bathroom breaks, Airbus suggests installing a radio-equipped toilet in the cockpit, allowing the pilot to use it without leaving their seat.
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If the pilot needs to use the toilet, the second pilot would have to be woken up, terminating the eMCO process temporarily.
If successful, Airbus plans to begin testing this system on its A350 aircraft as soon as 2027, with single-pilot operations possibly being introduced on freighter Airbus A320s within the next five years.
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