Qantas upgrades Sydney-Tasmania flights to A220
Modern Airbus A220s will replace the Boeings from Sydney to Hobart and Launceston.
By David Flynn, September 3 2024
There’s mixed news ahead for Qantas passengers who regularly shuttle between Sydney and Hobart, and indeed between Sydney and Launceston.
Both routes will be upgraded to the Airbus A220 over the coming months.
First up is Sydney-Launceston, where the QantasLink A220s will replace the rattly Boeing 717 beginning Sunday October 27.
Sydney-Hobart set to follow from Wednesday November 20, and while this is a clear upgrade from the 717 it’s a toss of the coin when it comes to the 737 jets if you’re a fan of their seatback video screens – something absent from the A220s.
Passengers should also check the Qantas schedule for the timing of those flights, as the new A220 services might change what you’ve become accustomed to over many months, if not years.
Qantas’ website also shows the A220s moving onto Melbourne-Launceston from Monday October 14, complementing the current Melbourne-based A220 runs to Hobart, Canberra and Brisbane.
The QantasLink A220 business class seat.
The QantasLink A220 features 10 seats in business class and 127 in economy, of which the first 12 – down the left side of the economy cabin – boast extra legroom.
QantasLink A220 economy class has a 2-3 layout.
Every seat from tip to tail includes high-power USB-C and USB-A sockets, with wireless charging in business class.
All passengers will also enjoy free WiFi that’s fast enough for video streaming on your smartphone, tablet or laptop.
QantasLink A220 extra-legroom seats vs standard seats.
As noted in our review of the QantasLink A220, the very first thing A220 passengers will notice is how large the cabin feels – there’s a surprising sense of openness and space which belies the plane’s compact dimensions.
The A220’s windows add to this: in addition to being noticeably taller than those of the Boeing 717 they’re set higher in the fuselage, with the net effect of bringing more natural light into the cabin.
Light fills the QantasLink A220 cabin.
And it’s hard to understate how quiet the A220 is: even on take-off, it’s not much louder than a 717 at cruise altitude.
The A220’s overhead bins have room enough for one standard-sized roller bag per passenger – an established sore point on the Boeing 717 – and they swing down lower than you might expect, making it easier to load and unload those bags.
Now we’re just waiting for Hobart’s all-new Qantas Club lounge, which is slated for sometime in 2027...
Read more: Qantas A220 business, economy class review
30 May 2014
Total posts 18
It's a welcome product upgrade but not a capacity one.
Bar 1 or 2 flights a week SYD-HBA has been operated by the 737-800 for some time now.
The 737-800's have been filling the gap on SYD-HBA left by 717's that have left the fleet and delays to the A220 deliveries.
Will miss the additional seats the 737-800 brought to the route.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
03 Mar 2014
Total posts 21
Exactly, the HBA-SYD route has been primarily/entirely 737s for the past few years.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 May 2013
Total posts 382
Great news! It looks like a fantastic aircraft.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Feb 2015
Total posts 387
So shortsighted not installing a comprehensive IFE system with seat back screens.
Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
16 Oct 2017
Total posts 159
I disagree. Seatback IFE harks from a time before personal tablets/phones. There's no need for it now, and its absence saves weight. What's needed is an adjustable seatback holder for personal devices.
30 May 2014
Total posts 18
I have to disagree as would Delta and Air Canada to name a few.
Qantas is a premium carrier charging a premium price, IFE screens are as much the norm as all aisle access flat beds are in international business class.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 468
For short, domestic flights on the A220, it's not a big deal. But it is a big deal for medium haul international. The decision to not install IFE on the A321 fleet is a blunder.
30 May 2014
Total posts 18
Agree John
The A220 will be a multi purpose aircraft eventually flying a mix of shorter and longer routes as stated by Qantas.
Regrettably Qantas appears to deem it satisfactory to install a short domestic route product across it's new narrowbodies despite the fact they are multi purpose for long routes and in the 321's case, international routes.
This is evident in the current 737-800 fleet. The older non IFE equipped 737's fly short and long, regularly appearing on East West.
It's all fine to say they are "primarily" short haul aircraft but the routes and airfares say otherwise.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
31 Mar 2016
Total posts 33
Positive news. I'd rather than a nice more comfortable plane than crushed into an old rattler with a entertainment screen I dont use.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Jun 2017
Total posts 77
Agree with previous comments that no IFE on these planes is a great mistake. This reeks of cost cutting and completely contradicting the Qantas aim of improving the customer experience.
Not everyone flying wants to use their phone for viewing entertainment on a flight. I travel with an iPad so not overly affected by this but many including older travellers don’t want the hassle of downloading and using the Qantas entertainment app and even if they did, viewing a movie on a phone is a very poor experience compared to an IFE screen.
12 Oct 2021
Total posts 5
Yea no seat back IFE is cheap.
I don't want to drain my battery watching content. I also want to be able to text use social emails and web on my phone while I watch the seat back map or movies etc.
Brand new planes and they've give backwards.
Cheap cost cutting from Qantas
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Oct 2016
Total posts 177
My favourire single aisle... even before it was an Airbus! IFE, not important for short haul, more significant when they start doing international. USB-C is very, very welcome
04 Nov 2020
Total posts 21
Personally, I think it’s ok not to have the IFE.
Compare the 737 with screens and no wifi, to those with no screens but wifi.
The selection of movies, tv series etc is way bigger streaming on your own device using inflight wifi and the QF Entertainment app.
The screen memory is so limited, so only 3 of 10 episodes are available for most Paramount+ tv series.
In flight wifi is the way to go, using your own device.
Again, just my humble opinion 😊
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