QANTAS: Delay in A321XLR international flights ’till 2027

Qantas has quietly pushed back the international debut of its Airbus A321XLR. It’s keeping the larger and considerably more comfortable Business Class cabin of an A330 on the Brisbane to Manila route for another three months.

The A321XLR was scheduled to take over QF97/98 between Brisbane and Manila from 25 October 2026. Qantas’ latest timetable update now shows the narrowbody making its international debut on 1 February 2027 instead.

A330 stays

The current Brisbane to Manila service operates five times weekly with an Airbus A330-200. Qantas had planned to switch to daily A321XLR flights from late October. This would have increased frequency while reducing the number of seats on each aircraft.

Instead, the A330-200 will continue operating the route until 31 January 2027. The increase from five flights a week to a daily service has also been delayed, although only until 23 November 2026.

The revised schedule is:

Flight	Route	Departure	Arrival	Aircraft
QF97	Brisbane–Manila	14:05	20:20	A330-200
QF98	Manila–Brisbane	21:35	07:25 +1	A330-200

From 1 February 2027, the A321XLR is currently scheduled to take over.

Qantas hasn’t publicly provided a detailed explanation for the change. The airline is progressively taking delivery of its new XLRs while simultaneously using them to replace Boeing 737s across its domestic network.

What passengers might prefer

Qantas’ first batch of A321XLRs is essentially configured for domestic operations. It’s the lack of an adequate number of toilets, nor lie-flat beds in Business for long-haul, that are the two most notable criticisms.

The aircraft carries 197 passengers: 20 in Business Class and 177 in Economy. Qantas says the XLR can fly up to 8,700 kilometres, roughly 3,000 kilometres further than the Boeing 737s it is replacing. It also provides larger overhead bins, quieter engines and fast Wi-Fi.

That’s all fabulous for domestic routes, but Brisbane–Manila is an international flight of more than six hours, with the return operating overnight.

The A330 currently offers Qantas’ international Business Suite in a 1-2-1 configuration with direct aisle access and a fully flat bed.

Economy gets a slightly better deal

Economy passengers have less reason to mourn the A330.

For Economy Passengers, the XLR brings a newer cabin, larger overhead lockers, USB-A and USB-C charging and Qantas’ fast Wi-Fi. The aircraft also includes Economy Plus seating with extra legroom.

Qantas has already modified the cabin design following criticism of the first aircraft’s lavatory provision. The earliest XLRs effectively offered one Economy toilet for around 180 passengers. Subsequent aircraft have had a row of seats removed to add another bathroom, substantially improving the ratio. Mind you, from my recent experience of a domestic flight on the XLR, the toilets are much more spacious than those tiny quasi-closets that the refurbished B737s have.

The proper international XLR is coming — eventually

More intriguing is what happens from 2028.

Qantas has ordered 48 A321XLRs in total, with 16 later aircraft specifically configured for longer flights. These will have lie-flat Business Class seats and seatback entertainment throughout the cabin and should start arriving in 2028.

Qantas says those aircraft could be used on transcontinental routes and international services, including possibilities such as Perth to India and Adelaide to Singapore.

Qantas will still schedule the XLRs on overseas routes

Qantas has repeatedly said the aircraft’s extra range will allow it to open routes into Southeast Asia and the Pacific which weren’t viable with the Boeing 737.

Manila remains the first announced international destination, just three months later than planned.

The more interesting question will be where the XLR goes next. Qantas has previously talked about using the aircraft flexibly across domestic and nearby international flying, and its range potentially puts destinations including Bali, Singapore, and parts of Southeast Asia within reach.

2PAXfly Takeout

I recently traveled on one of Qantas’ A321XLRs on a flight to Melbourne. A full 2PAXfly review is coming soon, but the short version is that it’s an impressive narrowbody, particularly in Economy Plus.

Normally an aircraft delay means passengers receive something worse than promised. Replacing a lie-flat A330 Business Suite with a 2-2 recliner on a daytime flight is an ‘enhancement’ worthy of Alan Joyce.

So enjoy the A330 while it lasts.