Qantas Nears Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner Order Amid Fleet Expansion Plans

Qantas, the flag carrier of Australia, is reportedly in the final stages of securing an order for Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft, as indicated by industry insiders. This potentially transformative order is expected to be formally announced within this month. Qantas appears to be favoring the Boeing 787-10 variant, an extended version of the 787-9 Dreamliner, characterized by higher passenger capacity and a slightly reduced flight range.

With a current fleet of 14 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner planes, Qantas aims to modernize its long-haul operations. By considering the Boeing 787-10s, the airline is addressing the need to replace its aging Airbus A330 jets, all the while competing with its Airbus A350-1000 orders under the Project Sunrise initiative. The airline’s interest in the Boeing 787-10 underscores its strategic intent to enhance its long-haul capabilities.

Qantas presently operates a fleet of 16 Airbus A330-200, 10 A330-300, and 10 A380 models, indicating a potential order for around 30 units of the Boeing 787-10 model would be a sensible move.

In April 2023, Qantas introduced an additional Boeing 787-9 to its fleet, with plans to incorporate three more by the end of this year’s fourth quarter. These additions will elevate the total count of Boeing 787-9s in Qantas’ fleet to 14, encompassing the recently procured aircraft.

The imminent Boeing 787-10 order harmonizes with Qantas’ expansive growth strategies, which involve the inclusion of Airbus A350 planes for the Project Sunrise initiative, slated for execution between 2026 and 2028. This introduction of A350s will enable Qantas to optimize its international flight network by strategically reallocating its Boeing 787-9 aircraft to specific routes.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, msn.com, qantas.com, boeing.com