First A220 jet for Qantas delivered in Aboriginal artwork

Australia’s national carrier Qantas has taken delivery of its first new generation A220, becoming the 20th operator of the aircraft. This is the first of 29 A220s ordered by the Qantas Group for operation by QantasLink, their regional airline that services metropolitan and regional destinations across Australia.

Featuring a unique livery based on Aboriginal artwork, the aircraft will depart the Airbus final assembly line in Mirabel in the coming days for a delivery flight to Sydney, with stops in Vancouver, Honolulu, and Nadi.

The A220 will gradually replace the existing Boeing 717 fleet at QantasLink. Flying twice as far, the A220 can connect any two points across Australia non-stop, while also bringing a significant 25% reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions compared to previous-generation aircraft.

The A220 also has the largest cabin, seats, and windows in its class, offering passengers superior comfort. With a total of 137 seats, Qantas’ A220s will be configured in a two-class layout seating, 10 passengers in business and 127 in economy.

Powered by the latest generation Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, it can fly up to 3,450 nautical miles or 6,390 kilometers non-stop.

Airbus has received close to 850 orders from 30 customers for the A220, of which over 300 have been delivered worldwide.