Aviation

Qantas eyes the 737 MAX for fleet renewal plans narrowbody, widebody plane orders in 2022

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Qantas has entered the final stages of a formal tender process with aircraft and engine manufacturers for the long-term renewal of its domestic narrow-body fleet.

The program, which has been flagged previously, will see more than 100 new aircraft enter the national carrier’s domestic fleet by 2034, renewing the Boeing 737-800s and Boeing 717s that currently form the backbone of its domestic jet operations.

Deliveries would start from the end of 2023 but the Group would retain significant flexibility to make adjustments depending on market conditions.

The aircraft being considered are the Boeing 737 MAX family and Airbus A320neo family, as well as the smaller Embraer E-Jet E2 family and the Airbus A220.

The tender process includes detailed evaluation of the aircraft against four key criteria: safety, reliability and performance, sustainability and emissions reduction, and commercial terms.

Final decisions on preferred suppliers of aircraft and engines are expected to be made by the end of 2021 followed by firm orders by mid-2022.

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OTHER FLEET

The Qantas Group has an existing order for 109 Airbus A320/A321 aircraft, which will predominantly be used to renew Jetstar’s exiting fleet of A320 aircraft. The first neo is due to be delivered in the second half of calendar year 2022 with deliveries through to end of the decade.

Three additional 787-9 Dreamliner’s for Qantas International will be delivered from FY23 onwards.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

Current fleet

Boeing 737-800

75 aircraft in the fleet
174 seats – 12 Business, 162 Economy
Current fleet age is between 7 to 19 years old
4,800km range
Operated on routes ranging from Melbourne-Sydney to Brisbane-Perth
CFM engines

The B737-800s have been the workhorse of Qantas’ domestic operation for the past 20 years, with fantastic reliability and a product that customers love. The most recent aircraft arrived in 2014 so the 737-800 will continue to fly for Qantas well into the next decade.

Boeing 717

20 aircraft in the fleet (mix of two and single class)
Two configurations:
- Dual class with 110 seats – 12 Business, 98 Economy
- Single class with 125 Economy seats
Current fleet age is from 15 to 22 years old
2,408km range
Operated on routes such as Brisbane-Canberra and Hobart-Melbourne
Rolls Royce Deutschland BR-715 engines

The B717s have provided Qantas with the flexibility to service many segments of the domestic market, including regional routes, fly in fly out operations or more frequencies to capital cities.

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AIRCRAFT BEING EVALUATED

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.

Boeing 737 MAX family

Consists of the MAX 7, MAX 8, MAX 9 and MAX 10
Seats range from 138 to 204 seats for two-class configurations
6,100km to 7,130km range
Reduces fuel use and CO2 emissions by 14 per cent compared to the 737-800NG
40 per cent quieter than the 737-800NG
CFM International LEAP-1B engines

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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
The A320neo family offers fuel improvements of 14 per cent from A320ceos
50 per cent quieter than the A320ceos
Two engine options-Pratt and Whitney PurePower PW1100G and CFM International LEAP-1A

Airbus A220

Specifically designed for the 100-150 seat market
25 per cent lower fuel burn per seat than previous generation aircraft, half the noise footprint, and decreased emissions
Up to 6,390km range
Pratt and Whitney PurePower PW1500G engines

Embraer E-Jet E2 family

E190-E2 seats up to 114 for a single-class configuration. Range is 5,278km
E195-E2 seats up to 146 for a single-class configuration. Range is 4,815km
Achieves double digit lower fuel consumption compared to current-generation Embraer jets
Pratt and Whitney PurePower PW1700G engines

Aviation

Aeroflot Buys Used Planes for Spare Parts Amid Sanctions

In the face of ongoing Western sanctions that have severely impacted Russia’s aviation industry, Aeroflot, the country’s largest airline, has devised a strategic plan to bolster its fleet’s spare parts inventory.

The airline is set to acquire five Boeing 737-800BCF freighters from Atran Airlines, a move that will allow it to dismantle the aircraft for critical components. The planes, which will be transferred to Aeroflot’s low-cost subsidiary Pobeda, will not be converted into passenger jets but instead will be stripped for valuable parts to support existing operations.

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Aeroflot’s plan to purchase these Boeing 737-800BCF freighters comes as part of a broader strategy to mitigate the effects of Western sanctions, which have crippled the Russian aviation sector. With the sanctions restricting access to essential aircraft parts and spare components, Aeroflot is exploring alternative ways to maintain and repair its fleet.

Instead of converting the freighters from cargo to passenger planes, a process deemed “unreasonably expensive” under current sanctions, the airline intends to focus on extracting high-value components such as engines, landing gear, avionics, and other essential systems.

The deal will be structured in a way that allows Aeroflot to indirectly purchase the freighters through an insurance settlement with the aircraft’s lessor, AerCap.

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The Russian government’s insurance company will reimburse the aircraft’s value, and the planes will then be leased back to local operators. This method circumvents some of the restrictions imposed by international sanctions while ensuring that the airline gains access to the necessary components to support its fleet.

By dismantling the aircraft for spare parts, Aeroflot aims to secure critical resources for the ongoing maintenance of its existing fleet. Components from the Boeing 737-800BCF freighters, such as engines and avionics, are expected to be reused in other aircraft within Aeroflot’s network, ensuring that the airline can keep its operations running smoothly