A new era has begun for QantasLink, the regional arm of Australian flag carrier Qantas. The airline has officially deployed its brand-new Airbus A220 into service, replacing the venerable Boeing 717.

A Modern Age

QantasLink is Qantas' regional brand and maintains a large presence in the Australian domestic network. The airline has a fleet of 96 planes to serve 61 destinations, with its fleet consisting of the following aircraft as of March 2023:

• Airbus A220-300
• Airbus A319-100
• Boeing 717-200
• DeHavilland Canada Dash 8-200
• DeHavilland Canada Dash 8-300
• DeHavilland Canada Dash 8-400
• Fokker 100

The carrier currently has two A220s in service, VH-X4A and VH-X4B. VH-X4A is painted in a special indigenous-themed paint scheme named "Minyma Kutjara Thukurpa." QantasLink has 27 more A220s on the way. These aircraft will replace the Boeing 717, an iconic jet that has served the Australian regional giant for years. QantasLink currently has nine 717s remaining expected to be retired this year.

A further part of its modernization plan includes the addition of the Airbus A319. QantasLink has one in service, with eight more on the way. All of these are former Spirit Airlines planes. QantasLink inaugurated the A220 service on March 1, with the first revenue flight operating as QF1266 from Melbourne (MEL) to the Australian capital of Canberra (CBR). This flight was operated by VH-X4B, the second and newest example delivered to QantasLink.

The Airbus A220 is one of the most fuel-efficient and modern aircraft. The aircraft features modern and spacious cabins boasting the largest windows of any single-aisle plane. Furthermore, the A220 offers almost double the range of the Boeing 717s it replaces. According to Qantas, this trait allows the A220 to fly nonstop between any two destinations in Australia, thus opening up the possibility of more nonstop domestic routes.

Another notable selling point of the A220 is its efficiency. The plane offers around 25% fewer CO2 emissions per seat and up to 50% less noise footprint than older planes. The A220 emits roughly 40% less nitrogen oxide emissions than industry standards.

Qantas will name its A220s after Australian wildlife. VH-X4A is an exception. However, VH-X4B is called "Koala." Here are other names that will be applied to future A220s:

• Echidna
• Little Red Flying Fox
• Platypus
• Rainbow Lorikeet
• Sugar Glider
• Tasmanian Devil
• Wedge-Tailed Eagle
• Whale Shark

Onboard Experience

QantasLink fits its new A220-300s with 137 seats consisting of 10 in Business Class and 127 in Economy. Business class amenities include wireless charging pads and dual USB-A and USB-C charging ports. The seats are arranged in a 2-2 configuration. The economy class seats are arranged in a 2-3 layout and are more spacious than the 717. They feature adjustable headrests along with both USB-A and USB-C ports.

In terms of inflight entertainment, there are no physical TV screens. As such, the A220s will feature onboard WiFi through which customers can stream entertainment to their devices. All seats have personal device holders, allowing for ease of enjoyment and entertainment.

The new A220 brings a new era of passenger comfort and enjoyment for QantasLink customers. These new planes will take the domestic Australian travel experience to a new level.