QantasLink has taken delivery of its first of three Airbus A319 jets, which will be based in Perth. The 18-year-old aircraft previously flew for Spirit Airlines, a low-cost carrier in the United States.
The first QantasLink Airbus A319 (registration: VH-8NP) touched down in Perth earlier this week, having flown in from Florida via California, Hawaii, the Marshall Islands and Cairns. The other two A319s are expected to arrive soon.
This is the first time QantasLink has used Airbus A319s. The planes will be operated by Network Aviation, which has already been operating Airbus A320s in QantasLink colours since 2018.
The new QantasLink A319 cabin layout
Qantas is making some cabin modifications before putting its Airbus A319s into service, including by removing the wider “Big Front Seats” installed by Spirit Airlines into the first few rows.
The QantasLink Airbus A319s will have 150 Economy Class seats, in a 3-3 layout over 25 rows. The plane won’t have wi-fi, in-seat power or a Business Class cabin, but Q-Streaming entertainment will be available.
According to the Qantas website, the seat pitch on this aircraft type will be 28 inches. This is less legroom than Qantas offers on its Boeing 737-800s.
The inaugural QantasLink A319 passenger flight is currently scheduled as QF1612 from Perth to Geraldton, departing at 7.15 am on Monday 29 January 2024.
QantasLink will use its Airbus A319s on selected flights from Perth to Geraldton, Broome, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Port Hedland and Newman.
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Why is QantasLink getting Airbus A319 planes?
Qantas announced in February 2023 that it would add five mid-life Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft to its fleet based in Western Australia “to support the growth of the resources market”. The airline also cited delays to the delivery of other new aircraft as a reason for acquiring these second-hand aircraft.
Once QantasLink receives its delayed aircraft, it will decide whether to retain or retire the Airbus A319s and additional A320s based on the market conditions at the time.
QantasLink’s new Airbus A220 will soon enter service
QantasLink also recently received its first brand new Airbus A220 regional jet.
The beautifully-painted aircraft is currently conducting crew training and regulatory approval flights. But it will enter passenger service in the coming months, with Melbourne-Canberra as the first Qantas A220 route.
