QANTAS CEO Confirms Order for 110 A320's including NEO's

[John Arena]

Qantas Airways has finalised a contract for 110 Airbus A320 aircraft, including 78 A320neo.

The aircraft will be deployed across the Qantas Group on short-to-medium haul domestic and international operations, said Airbus and Australia's national carrier in a joint statement.

This order confirms a commitment for the A320s that Qantas announced on 16 August 2011.

The Oneworld alliance member has also confirmed that the A320 will be the aircraft used to launch a new premium airline based in Asia. Qantas is deciding between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur for the base of this new subsidiary.

All of the aircraft, including 32 regular A320s, will also be deployed across the Qantas Group's fleet. This includes its low-cost subsidiary Jetstar, Singapore-based Jetstar Asia, and the upcoming Jetstar Japan.

Qantas has not selected an engine for the A320neo.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/art...-a320s-362976/

Qantas Airways says the latest version of Airbus's narrowbody workhorse will open up new routes and expand the airline's international network.

As part of the airline's ambitions in Asia, Qantas has ordered 110 Airbus A320 narrowbody aircraft, as well as an unspecified number of purchase rights beyond that.

The orders included 78 A320neos, or new engine option, aircraft which manufacturer Airbus launched in December last year.

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The A320neo provided an eight per cent improvement in costs over the existing A320 flying in the skies today, according to Airbus.

The A320neo would begin to arrive in 2015, Airbus said recently.

Qantas has earmarked 99 A320s for the Jetstar's operations in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam and the recently announced joint-venture in Japan.

Some 11 aircraft were for Qantas's proposed new premium airline to be based in a yet-to-be-confirmed Asian hub city, with Singapore or Kuala Lumpur the leading candidates.

Jetstar would be able to use the A320neo to fly to Bali from Sydney and Melbourne, giving the low-cost carrier the opportunity to increase frequencies into such leisure destinations.

And within Asia, the A320neo's extended range allowed the airline group to fly from Singapore to Shanghai or Beijing, which would allow Qantas to have a bigger presence in the growing Chinese market

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news...005-1l9dp.html

John

[Ryan K]

And sadly, none of these A320's will have a Qantas Kanagroo on the tail and a lot of them wont be registered VH-***

[A McLaughlin]

If the new QF premium airline adopts the rat scheme, 11 of them will wear it.

[Dave Dale]

I can't wait for Qantas to order the 737MAX. At least I hope so...