HAMBURG– Qantas (QF) has revealed a new Great Barrier Reef-inspired livery on its latest Airbus A321XLR, highlighting one of Australia’s most famous natural landmarks as the airline continues to modernize its narrowbody fleet.
The aircraft, named Coral Sea, recently emerged from Airbus’ paint facility in Hamburg (HAM), Germany, ahead of its delivery to Australia.
The new jet is the seventh Airbus A321XLR scheduled to join the Qantas fleet and forms part of an order for 48 aircraft of the type.
The carrier became the first airline in the Asia-Pacific region to operate the A321XLR when its first example entered commercial service in September 2025, marking a major milestone in its fleet renewal strategy.
Qantas A321XLR Fleet
The Airbus A321XLR has become a key component of Qantas’ long-term network plans.
Designed to offer significantly greater range than the Boeing 737 aircraft it replaces, the jet can operate routes more than 3,000 kilometers longer while delivering improved efficiency and passenger comfort.
Qantas has steadily expanded the aircraft’s role across its domestic network since introducing the type last year.
The airline has already deployed the A321XLR on several high-demand routes and plans to increase utilization as additional aircraft arrive.
The newest aircraft, Coral Sea, will soon begin service after completing its delivery journey to Australia. Qantas pilots are expected to ferry the aircraft from Europe in the coming weeks.
Great Barrier Reef Design on Qantas’ A321XLR
The aircraft’s special livery pays tribute to the Great Barrier Reef, which remains one of Australia’s most visited tourism attractions.
The design covers both sides of the 44-meter-long fuselage and features marine life commonly associated with the reef, including sea turtles, clownfish, and colorful coral formations.
The project also reflects the airline’s longstanding relationship with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
Since 2009, Qantas has supported reef conservation initiatives and has committed $10 million through its Reef Restoration Fund to assist coral restoration efforts and environmental research programs.
The airline said the aircraft will help showcase the reef to millions of travelers over its operational lifetime. By bringing the destination’s imagery to airports across Australia and beyond, Qantas hopes to increase awareness of the reef’s ecological and tourism significance.
Qantas’ Queensland Network Growth
The unveiling comes as Qantas continues to strengthen its presence across Queensland. The airline group operates more than 1,600 domestic and international return services into and out of the state each week, supporting tourism, business travel, and regional connectivity.
The Great Barrier Reef welcomed more than 2.3 million visitors during the past year, while visitor spending across Queensland exceeded $44 billion. These figures underline the tourism sector’s importance to the state’s economy and reinforce the value of strong air connectivity.
Qantas and Jetstar expanded their Queensland operations in 2025 by launching 10 new routes.
The airline is also introducing more next-generation aircraft on Queensland services, including A321XLR flights between Brisbane (BNE) and Perth (PER), while its first international A321XLR route between Brisbane and Manila (MNL) is scheduled to launch in October.
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