First Qantas group A220 on Assembly line as Australians invited to name new fleet

Construction of the first Airbus A220 aircraft for the Qantas Group has begun, marking a significant turning point for the company as its fleet renewal programme picks up speed.

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The centre and rear fuselages, as well as other significant airframe parts, are being assembled at Airbus’ production site in Mirabel, Canada, and the first of the 29 aircraft is anticipated to land in Australia by the end of the year. The aircraft will go through regulatory approvals, airport readiness checks, and training exercises before it enters the QantasLink fleet in early 2024 as the first A220 to be operated in Australia. Additionally, QantasLink has started training its pilots to fly the new planes.

The Boeing 717 fleet that runs routes throughout Australia will progressively be replaced with the new generation A220 aircraft. Between Melbourne and Canberra, the first QantasLink A220 will fly, with more aircraft being deployed to other regional and domestic network locations. The A220 is anticipated to open up new domestic and short-haul international routes when more aircraft are added to the fleet since it has a range that is double that of the 717.

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The Qantas Group is asking Australians to help name its new A220 fleet, based on the idea of “native wildlife,” now that construction is in full swing. Australians can submit up to six names starting today via a special page on qantas.com. Before the official names are released, a shortlist will be made public so that the public can vote on their preferences.

To suggest names for the new QantasLink A220 fleet, visit qantas.com/a220name by 8 August 2023.