Qantas Launches the Most Ambitious Fleet Renewal in Its History, Worth $128 Billion

Australia’s flag carrier, Qantas, is in the middle of the largest and most complex fleet transformation program in its century-long history — a multi-year, $128 billion undertaking that will fundamentally reshape how the airline connects Australia to the rest of the world. Far from a straightforward replacement cycle, the program is structured around four distinct strategic projects, each with its own aircraft types, routes, and commercial objectives.

Project Winton addresses the domestic and short-haul international network, replacing the long-serving Boeing 737-800s and 717s with 48 Airbus A321XLRs and 29 Airbus A220-300s. These modern narrowbody jets offer significantly lower operating costs and open up new thin routes that were previously uneconomical.

Project Sunrise is the most headline-grabbing initiative: the planned launch of the world’s first nonstop commercial flights between Sydney and London, using 12 specially modified Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft equipped with an additional 20,000-liter rear center fuel tank. The service is now scheduled to begin in October 2027, following delays caused by supply chain disruptions affecting Airbus deliveries. When it launches, it will be the longest commercial passenger route in the world.

Project Fysh — named after Qantas co-founder Sir Hudson Fysh — introduces 12 standard Airbus A350-1000s and 12 Boeing 787-10s to serve a range of international routes, replacing older widebody aircraft. Beyond these three defined programs, Qantas is also evaluating an additional order of up to 20 widebody jets — either A350s or 787s — to accelerate the retirement of its remaining Airbus A380 fleet and support further international network expansion. The airline has also committed to incorporating a 2% sustainable aviation fuel blend into its operations by 2026 as part of its broader environmental commitments.