QANTAS: More A321XLR domestic flights announced. Add Brisbane to the list

Qantas has a new toy and it ain’t wasting much time in showing it off. The first of the long-range Airbus A321XLR domestic flights are taking off on Thursday 25 September as previously reported. Now, even more services have been added across the capital city golden triangle plus a run to Perth.

The debut flights

Let me remind you of the previously announced flights:

• QF645: Sydney 10.35 to Perth 13.35
• QF650: Perth 14.35 to Sydney 20.40
• QF467: Sydney 16.20 to Melbourne 17.55
• QF484: Melbourne 18.50 to Sydney 20.15

…closely followed by…

Days later that schedule doubles for the A321XLR domestic flights to two daily SYD–PER–SYD flights and four daily SYD–MEL–SYD runs. Brisbane will be serviced from Sydney, nightly, starting from 16 November.

Here’s the XLR lineup you can expect over the coming months (subject to the usual airline timetable shuffle):

Sydney–Melbourne

• QF405: 06:30
• QF415: 07:25
• QF443: 12:30
• QF483: 18:25

Melbourne–Sydney

• QF422: 09:00
• QF432: 10:00
• QF454: 13:00
• QF498: 21:00

Sydney–Perth

• QF641: 06:25
• QF643: 08:15
• QF649: 12:25

Perth–Sydney

• QF646: 09:15
• QF648: 11:20
• QF652: 15:20

Sydney–Brisbane (from 16 November)

• QF544: 17:30

Brisbane–Sydney (from 16 November)

• QF555: 21:30

What’s new for passengers

Just to remind you — for travellers, the XLR brings:

• Quieter cabins and a smoother ride compared to the old 737s
• Larger overhead bins for your carry-on jenga
• Modern interior less like the mid-90s and more like, well, now

Qantas has also confirmed that 16 of its XLRs will be kitted out for international routes. That means lie-flat business class seats and seatback video screens for everybody!

Cool — here’s a seat-map comparison showing how the Qantas A321XLR cabin configuration compares with the outgoing 737, and what that means in real terms for passengers.

2PAXfly Takeout

I’m glad Qantas have confirmed the international layout including lie flat beds in Business Class. Otherwise, some of those new routes to Asia that have been rumoured would be very uncomfortable on those 8 hour plus flights. It would make the aircraft similar to what Oman Air is doing with some of its Boeing 737 MAX-8s.

Can’t wait to sample these aircraft whether in the domestic or international layout. Having flown several legs domestically and trans-Tasman last week with Qantas on those ageing Boeing 737s, I can’t wait for them to be replaced.