First A321XLR for Qantas takes off on delivery flight to Australia 

Qantas’ first Airbus A321XLR aircraft has started the long delivery flight to its new home in Australia.  

The aircraft (registration VH-OGA), which has been named ‘Great Ocean Road’, was built and officially delivered to the Australian airline at Airbus’ facilities in Finkenwerder, near Hamburg, Germany, after successfully completing the customer acceptance flight on June 24, 2025. 

Qantas / AirbusThe first leg of the 42-hour-long journey from Germany to Australia will cover the 9,600 kilometres from Finkenwerder (XFW) to Bangkok (BKK), Thailand, in one go, thereby becoming the longest A321XLR flight to be operated to date by an airline.  

From the Thai capital, the A321XLR will fly another 7,600 kilometres to reach Sydney (SYD), where it is expected at 10am local time on the morning of July 2, 2025. 

Qantas ordered 28 A321XLR aircraft to replace part of its B737 fleet. The aircraft are fitted with a two-class cabin with 20 business class seats and either 177 or 180 seats in economy class. 

The Australian airline will operate within Australia but also, crucially, to destinations in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, taking advantage of the extended range and flexibility provided by this single-aisle aircraft. 

Qantas will become the fourth airline in the world to receive the A321XLR, after launch operator Iberia, Ireland’s Aer Lingus and low-cost carrier Wizz Air. 

The post First A321XLR for Qantas takes off on delivery flight to Australia  appeared first on AeroTime.

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