QantasLink unveils new look A220s

QantasLink's inaugural Airbus A220 aircraft, freshly painted, has emerged from Airbus’ Mirabel facility in Canada.

This aircraft, set to land in Australia by year's end, is the lead of 29 A220s slated for delivery to the Group under its domestic fleet renewal plan, aimed at replacing and expanding its narrowbody fleet.

These advanced QantasLink A220s will progressively replace the Boeing 717s on various Australian routes. Offering double the range of the 717, the A220 is anticipated to facilitate new domestic and short-haul international routes as more join the fleet.

This A220 marks the twelfth new aircraft received by the Group in the last year, complementing eight Airbus A321LRs for Jetstar and three Boeing 787 Dreamliners for Qantas International. The coming year promises more diverse aircraft arrivals, including the first Airbus A321XLR for Qantas Domestic. These new models boast significant reductions in fuel consumption, emissions, and noise compared to their predecessors.

Assembled over six months at Mirabel, with components including wings sourced from the UK, this first QantasLink A220 underwent a two-week painting process to don a remarkable Aboriginal livery, the sixth in Qantas' Flying Art Series, initiated in 1994.

The latest livery, created by Balarinji in partnership with First Nations artists, showcases Pitjantjatjara artist Maringka Baker's work, depicting a Dreaming story titled "Minyma Kutjara Tjukurpa – The Two Sisters Creation Story." This intricate design, involving over 100 painters, 130 stencils, and 20,000 dots, represents Airbus' most complex livery for this model.

Qantas Group CEO, Vanessa Hudson, highlighted the transformative potential of the A220s for domestic and regional journeys, promising enhanced travel experiences and new career opportunities within the company.

The A220 (registration VH-X4A) will complete Airbus's routine post-production tests and receive Qantas-specific fittings before its official handover. It will then fly from Quebec to join the QantasLink fleet, initially serving Melbourne-Canberra routes, with six more A220s expected by mid-2025.