The ‘game-changing’ plane coming to Wellington that has some people very excited

Thursday, 11 September 2025

Qantas’ A220 will eventually replace the Boeing 737s used on the Brisbane-Wellington route.

There was quite a flurry of news from Jetstar and Qantas on Wednesday with new routes and extra capacity announced on the domestic and trans-Tasman networks.

But one announcement got aviation fans particularly excited.

Wellington will host the first international service for the plane that has been described as a “game changer” by Qantas boss Vanessa Hudson.

The A220-300 will be operated by regional subsidiary QantasLink between the capital and Brisbane from February next year.

The first flight into Wellington will be on February 2 and the aircraft will be phased in to eventually replace the existing Boeing 737-800.

What’s so special?

The aircraft is a big jump in fuel efficiency, burning up to 25% less fuel than some older models.

Louis Wu from Massey University’s School of Aviation told Stuff that’s good news for travellers.

“Since fuel is one of the largest costs for airlines, the improved efficiency of the A220 could give Qantas more flexibility to lower airfares.

“This would strengthen their competitive position against Air New Zealand and, at the same time, benefit travellers and residents with more promotions and cheaper ticket options.”

Onboard, there are 137 seats, including 10 business class, and the cabin has bigger windows and 20% more overhead locker space.

Passengers will have USB A and C at-seat charging for personal devices, including wireless charging in Business.

The new A220 features an artwork by a First Nations artist composed of more than 20,000 dots.

What is missing is the seatback entertainment screen, but Wu said the aircraft will have onboard wi-fi.

“For most passengers on a short-haul flight of around 3.5 hours, reliable internet access is more relevant than traditional entertainment systems.

“The ability to chat with friends, use social media, read the news, or stream content on personal devices reflects how passengers’ expectations have evolved. In this sense, the A220 is well-suited to meet most travellers’ needs.”

How many A220s does Qantas have?

QantasLink currently has seven in service with another 22 on order.

They are flying domestic services around Australia.

What Wellington Airport says

Chief executive Matt Clarke is excited to welcome the A220 to the capital.

“This is a truly next-generation aircraft with features that passengers will love - we’ve had our eyes on the A220 ever since Qantas announced their entry into the fleet.

“Qantas is Wellington’s largest international airline by some distance and it’s fantastic to see them continuing to grow their market share in New Zealand.”

An earlier version of this story said the first flight into Wellington was on February 6, Waitangi Day. This information was incorrect and has been updated to February 2. Correction at 12.15pm, Sep 12.