By aviation writer Scott Mayman
There’s renewed hope Qantas is closer to announcing international flights in-and-out of Canberra.
Nearly a year ago Qantas boss Vanessa Hudson named the Canberra to Singapore route as being on the airline’s radar, using the incoming Airbus A321 XLR (Extra Long Range).
The first of the new jets arrive in June.
Speaking in Hamburg, where manufacturing of the new plane’s is being finalised, Ms Hudson talked up the ability of the new aircraft to fly to any point on the Australian mainland, but they can also fly short-haul international.
The jet will replace the outgoing fleet of 737 aircraft and can travel 11 hours non stop – sufficient for a direct flight between Canberra and most of southeast Asia.
Last year, Chief Minister Andrew Barr seized on Ms Hudson’s earlier comments saying it’s the strongest signal yet the Flying Kangaroo would launch an international route out of Canberra.
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