Qantas revealed the first look of its first A220 aircraft that entered the final assembly stage at Airbus Mirabel plant in Canada. The airline is expecting delivery of the aircraft towards the end of 2023.
The plane is the first of 29 A220s that the airline has on order as part of its 'Project Winton' fleet renewal program. The program will see the carrier invest in up to 299 new aircraft to replace and grow its narrowbody fleet.
As a part of the fleet renewal, Qantas Group expects to take delivery of a new aircraft every three weeks on average for the next few years
The aircraft's major airframe components, including the center and rear fuselage, are currently on the production line in Mirabel. The A220 currently in production stage will be the first of the type to be operated in Australia.
The aircraft will undergo regulatory approvals, airport readiness, and training activities before it joins the QantasLink fleet in early 2024. QantasLink pilots are already undergoing training to fly the new jets once they arrive down under.
Speaking about the start of production of the airline's first A220, John Gissing, chief executive, QantasLink said: “The production milestone marks an important step in the renewal of the airline’s fleet. The A220 represents the next generation in our domestic fleet in terms of passenger comfort, aircraft range, and opportunities for our people, so seeing the first aircraft starting to take shape is incredibly exciting,”
As a part of the fleet replacement program, the 29 A220s will replace QantasLink’s Boeing 717 fleet. The 717s are coming to the end of their active lives, with the oldest being almost 23 years old, having been delivered to the airline in August 2000.
A total of seven A220s are expected to be in service by the end of 2024, building up to a total of 29 aircraft by 2027. The QantasLink A220s will seat 137 passengers in a two-cabin configuration with 10 Business seats and 127 seats in Economy.