First Qantas A220 revealed

[RSVKanga]

This is what the QantasLink A220 economy seat will look like from the back. Recaro BL3710 with a black finish.


The front will be grey fabric with a black headrest, very similar to the Qantas A350 economy seat.

 

[moa999]

While obviously it's a lot about maintenance I still wish Qantas would add 'splashes' of colour.
Some red stitching or piping here or there.. maybe w stitched kangaroo etc.

 

[Saab34]

While obviously it's a lot about maintenance I still wish Qantas would add 'splashes' of colour.
Some red stitching or piping here or there.. maybe w stitched kangaroo etc.

Agree. The whole colour palette of this company needs to change, as part of the ‘new era’ outside of Joyce…new colour palette…new uniforms…rejuvenate the whole thing.

Doesn’t need to be red either. Delta did a pretty good job on its uniforms and it stayed away from the blue and red. The A350 had a softer palette, being a creamy coloured seat with a lighter maroon headrest, certainly some colours they could use to rebrand the carrier.

 

[RichardMEL]

Agree. The whole colour palette of this company needs to change, as part of the ‘new era’ outside of Joyce…new colour palette…new uniforms…rejuvenate the whole thing.

Doesn’t need to be red either. Delta did a pretty good job on its uniforms and it stayed away from the blue and red. The A350 had a softer palette, being a creamy coloured seat with a lighter maroon headrest, certainly some colours they could use to rebrand the carrier.

Imo playing with fire to change the red tail. While the "euro white" fuselage is commonly dull I guess and maybe could be tweaked somehow, the white room on red tail (even the weirdly armless version) is iconic. Everyone around the world sees it and immediately knows it's QF and Australia. I woukd venture the roo is more iconic than the LH flying crane or SQ's golden styalised bird motif and on par with the Swiss cross or AC maple leaf (despite both examples being similar to their countries' flags as opposdd to QF'S roo).

The uniform for sure can change and even the font and other bits and pieces absolutely.

Imo DL changed a lot of things and became a carrier with a better product and service and became a company that people wanted to fly with. Not so much more recently though.

I just reckon it's a huge risk to change that aspect of the brand. It's one of the enduring symbols of QF that isn't broken imo (except for the poor arms lol) and doesn't need to be fixed. Remove that, and so much of the link between company and country is lost immediately.

Besides, can't put a giant Q on the tail.. a certain segment of the US population may see that as a real sign

And let's face it, you can change uniforms, colours and whathaveyou, but if the actual experiences, company culture and servuce do not, then a rebrand won't mean a thing. The phrase involving lipstick and pigs comes to mind.

 

[p--and--t]

Agree. The whole colour palette of this company needs to change, as part of the ‘new era’ outside of Joyce…new colour palette…new uniforms…rejuvenate the whole thing.

Doesn’t need to be red either. Delta did a pretty good job on its uniforms and it stayed away from the blue and red. The A350 had a softer palette, being a creamy coloured seat with a lighter maroon headrest, certainly some colours they could use to rebrand the carrier.

Why would we want them to spend 100s millions on repainting planes, new uniforms, recovering perfectly fine seats etc when that money could be spent on training resources for FOH, more CR seats, reduced fares, improved menus, upgrading lounges and fixing website issues.

 

[MooTime]

Why would we want them to spend 100s millions on repainting planes, new uniforms, recovering perfectly fine seats etc when that money could be spent on training resources for FOH, more CR seats, reduced fares, improved menus, upgrading lounges and fixing website issues.

Cos as soon as you reduce fares there goes the big profits, then back to tightening strings, not to mention upgrading lounges cease.
Training staff, hahahaha yeah right.

 

[melflyer]

What new domestic and international routes do you think are likely as QF receives more A220s?

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF @melflyer .

 

[Harrison_133]

From Flight Hacks:

For the AvGeeks reading, Qantas Operations has shared with Flight Hacksthe A220 schedule for the first two weeks of March 2024. While you won’t yet see the A220 listed on Qantas’ booking engine, we expect to see the B717 subbed out before flights begin.

Tentative March schedule:

Bracketed dates indicate the March 2024 date when A220’s replace B717’s (A220 flights are subject to change);

Melbourne to Canberra;

• QF1260, 6:05am – 7:10am (4-5-6-7-8-11-12-13-14)
• QF1264, 8:05am – 9:10am (3-10)
• QF1266, 10:00am – 11:05am (1 to 14)
• QF1268, 12:10pm – 1:15pm (1 to 14)
• QF1272, 4:20pm – 5:25pm (3-4-5-10-11-12)
• QF1274, 4:50pm – 5:55pm (1-6-7-8-13-14)

Canberra to Melbourne;

• QF1263, 7:50am – 9:00am (4-5-6-7-8-11-12-13-14)
• QF1267, 9:50am – 11:00am (3-10)
• QF1269, 11:45am – 12:55pm (1 to 14)
• QF1271, 1:55pm – 3:05pm (1 to 14)
• QF1277, 6:05pm – 7:15pm (3-4-5-10-11-12)
• QF1279, 6:35pm – 7:45pm (1-6-7-8-13-14)

Source: Qantas Will Reveal Its New A220 Jet Within Days | Flight Hacks

 

[Himeno]

From Flight Hacks:

Tentative March schedule:

Source: Qantas Will Reveal Its New A220 Jet Within Days | Flight Hacks

Those are odd flight numbers.
The 717 CBR flights typically use QF15xx numbers. The QF12xx numbers are typically used for mainline domestic.

 

[AIRwin]

Those are odd flight numbers.

Some are even

 

[Ade]

The 717 CBR flights typically use QF15xx numbers.

As a data point a few of my QFLink MEL/SYD-CBR flights in late Nov/early Dec were QF18xx numbers. I asked at MEL J lounge about the 18xx numbers and the staff did not have any idea why.

 

[RichardMEL]

I guessing 12xx is being repurposed for the 220s. I like it.

 

[Saab34]

The QF12xx numbers are typically used for mainline domestic.

Well that’s the plan isn’t it! Cheaper subsidiary replacing mainline over time.

 

[TY24]

If these aircraft are going to be used on mid haul international flights, one has to wonder if a handful of these A220's will be branded as Qantas mainline aircraft and fitted with IFE screens? I can't imagine flying internationally with no IFE would be a great look for a 'full service' airline.

 

[HS-TQE]

If these aircraft are going to be used on mid haul international flights, one has to wonder if a handful of these A220's will be branded as Qantas mainline aircraft and fitted with IFE screens? I can't imagine flying internationally with no IFE would be a great look for a 'full service' airline.

Well going by history, probably not. Alliance Airlines E190s operating as QantasLink already operates "international" services from Queensland to WLG, as well as to the Pacific Islands. They are also planning to operate DRW-SIN services this upcoming NW24/25 season.

 

[bullerdude]

If these aircraft are going to be used on mid haul international flights, one has to wonder if a handful of these A220's will be branded as Qantas mainline aircraft and fitted with IFE screens? I can't imagine flying internationally with no IFE would be a great look for a 'full service' airline.

I would hope they do a international fit out with the extras, if they are forgoing them on the domestic fitted planes.

 

[TY24]

Well going by history, probably not. Alliance Airlines E190s operating as QantasLink already operates "international" services from Queensland to WLG, as well as to the Pacific Islands. They are also planning to operate DRW-SIN services this upcoming NW24/25 season.

DRW-SIN would be the perfect route for a mainline A220. Time will tell I suppose.

 

[RichardMEL]

Subfleets always create logistical problems imo. I doubt they will do anything like this.

Certainly not go under mainline brand.

 

[Saab34]

No chance you will ever see a A220 flying for mainline. They won’t want to pay the higher wages if they don’t need to.