Qantas continued its fleet-renewal push on 2 February by operating the first international scheduled flight of its Airbus A220—from Brisbane to Wellington. The 137-seat jet, featuring wide windows, fast Wi-Fi and USB-C charging, will fly the trans-Tasman route up to three times a week and burn about 25 per cent less fuel than the Boeing 717s it replaces.
QantasLink CEO Mark Dal Pra said the A220’s economics open new Pacific and trans-Tasman possibilities from secondary Australian cities, while Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan Graaff welcomed quieter, more sustainable operations for local communities. The debut comes as Qantas accelerates a 200-plus aircraft order book that includes A321XLRs and A350-1000 “Project Sunrise” jets.
![Qantas deploys new Airbus A220 on first international service between Brisbane and Wellington]()
Whether your itinerary now includes Brisbane-Wellington sectors on the A220 or the expanded Brisbane-Honiara service, checking visa requirements remains critical. Online provider VisaHQ (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) streamlines applications for Australia, New Zealand, the Solomon Islands and dozens of other destinations, letting travel managers coordinate timely approvals while travellers focus on the new in-flight comforts.
For business-travel managers the A220 offers tangible cabin upgrades—10 Business seats in a 2-2 layout, larger overhead bins and wireless charging pads—at economy pricing competitive with low-cost carriers. Cargo capacity, though smaller than wide-bodies, will suit time-sensitive exports such as pharmaceuticals moving between Queensland and New Zealand.
In parallel, Qantas confirmed it will lift Brisbane-Honiara services to five weekly from 29 March, reinforcing Brisbane’s status as a northern hub. Companies with staff based in Queensland gain additional one-stop access to Wellington’s government and tech sectors without routing via Sydney. Mobility planners should update travel policies to reflect the new aircraft type’s Wi-Fi availability and USB-C power when budgeting for in-flight productivity.
QantasLink CEO Mark Dal Pra said the A220’s economics open new Pacific and trans-Tasman possibilities from secondary Australian cities, while Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan Graaff welcomed quieter, more sustainable operations for local communities. The debut comes as Qantas accelerates a 200-plus aircraft order book that includes A321XLRs and A350-1000 “Project Sunrise” jets.
Whether your itinerary now includes Brisbane-Wellington sectors on the A220 or the expanded Brisbane-Honiara service, checking visa requirements remains critical. Online provider VisaHQ (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) streamlines applications for Australia, New Zealand, the Solomon Islands and dozens of other destinations, letting travel managers coordinate timely approvals while travellers focus on the new in-flight comforts.
For business-travel managers the A220 offers tangible cabin upgrades—10 Business seats in a 2-2 layout, larger overhead bins and wireless charging pads—at economy pricing competitive with low-cost carriers. Cargo capacity, though smaller than wide-bodies, will suit time-sensitive exports such as pharmaceuticals moving between Queensland and New Zealand.
In parallel, Qantas confirmed it will lift Brisbane-Honiara services to five weekly from 29 March, reinforcing Brisbane’s status as a northern hub. Companies with staff based in Queensland gain additional one-stop access to Wellington’s government and tech sectors without routing via Sydney. Mobility planners should update travel policies to reflect the new aircraft type’s Wi-Fi availability and USB-C power when budgeting for in-flight productivity.
