Airbus A220-300 National Jet System operated for QantasLink
Registration: VH-X4D Named: Platypus Type: A220-300 Engines: 2 × PW PW1524G-3 Serial Number: 55298 First flight: Aug 28, 2024
National Jet Systems is an Australian regional airline founded in 1989 and based in Adelaide. It is wholly owned by Qantas Group and operates scheduled flights under the QantasLink brand.
In December 2023, National Jet Systems took delivery of the first of twenty-nine Airbus A220-300 aircraft, launching the QantasLink fleet renewal program. The first aircraft, VH-X4A, adorned with a livery featuring traditional Aboriginal artwork "Minyma Kutjara Tjukurpa," completed its inaugural flight from Mirabel, Canada to Sydney, with three intermediate stops.
The choice of the A220-300 as successor to the Boeing 717 represents a telling example of regional aviation's evolution. The advantages are clear—these aircraft have a range of six and a half thousand kilometers, nearly triple that of the 717s. This enables nonstop connections between any points on the Australian continent and opens prospects for international routes throughout Southeast Asia.
The cabin configuration accommodates 137 passengers: 10 business class seats in a 2-2 layout and 127 economy class seats in a 2-3 layout. Commercial operations began on March 1, 2024, on the Melbourne–Canberra route. By the end of 2025, National Jet Systems had taken delivery of 11 aircraft, adding Melbourne–Brisbane, Melbourne–Hobart, and Darwin–Singapore routes to its network. The latter became the first international route for this aircraft type in the Australian network. The delivery schedule provides for fleet completion in 2027.
The strategic significance of the program extends beyond technological renewal. National Jet Systems has gained a tool for network development, enabling service to previously inaccessible regional destinations.
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