Qantas is upgrading its fleet of aircraft servicing Tasmania, with the introduction of new Airbus A220s.
The brand new planes will replace aging Boeing 717s and larger Boeing 737s on QantasLink routes from Sydney to Launceston and Hobart.
From October 27th, the A220s will take over the Sydney to Launceston route, while the Sydney to Hobart route will follow suit on November 19th.
The airline is also expanding its A220 operations from Melbourne to Launceston from October 14th.
While the A220s offer more seats than the Boeing 717s, they have a smaller capacity than the 737s, with 137 seats compared to 174.
This means there will be 37 less seats available on each flight between Sydney and Tasmania’s capital.
Despite the reduction in seat numbers, Qantas says the A220s will provide a more comfortable and efficient travel experience.
QantasLink chief executive Rachel Yangoyan said the A220 would change the way people travelled around the country at the launch of the aircraft in March.
“The A220 is more comfortable, offering a greater sense of space and fast and free Wi-Fi for every customer,” she said.
“The aircraft are also quieter and generate up to 25% fewer carbon emissions, which is critical as we work towards our net zero target.”
The A220s feature a modern cabin with larger overhead bins, larger windows and comfier seats.
They are also quieter than the aircraft they are replacing, which the airline says is due to a reduction in noise footprint of up to 50%.
