Qantas Freight boosts parcel capacity with new A321P2F

Qantas Freight, the Qantas Group’s dedicated cargo division, and Australia Post have marked the next phase of their long-standing partnership with the arrival of the first of three additional Airbus A321 Passenger-to-Freighter (A321P2F) aircraft. The additions will help meet growing demand for fast and reliable parcel deliveries across Australia.

The three aircraft will increase capacity across Qantas Freight’s dedicated freighter network by up to 20%, enabling it to carry up to 20,000 Australia Post and StarTrack parcels on every flight. The additional capacity will help connect customers, businesses and communities across Australia.

With the first aircraft arriving just weeks before Black Friday sales and the peak Christmas delivery season, the additional capacity will help Australia Post and Qantas Freight manage the surge in demand as millions of Australians shop online. The new freighters will support overnight and next-day deliveries nationwide, serving all Qantas Freight domestic terminals, including the new 24-hour terminal at Western Sydney International (WSI) Airport, which began operations in July. The remaining two A321P2F aircraft are scheduled to join the Qantas Freight fleet by March 2027.

The larger A321P2F aircraft can carry more freight per flight than the smaller BAE 146-300 freighters they replace, helping accommodate growing parcel volumes, lower emissions and improve network efficiency across Australia.

The delivery follows Qantas Freight and Australia Post's decision to extend their partnership for another 10 years, building on a relationship that began in 1922 when Qantas carried 106 letters on its inaugural commercial flight. The renewed agreement will support the movement of more than 75 million parcels and other freight items annually across Australia and international markets.

“Australia’s freight network plays a critical role in connecting businesses and communities across the country. This investment will help us support Australia Post and respond more effectively as demand for fast overnight deliveries continues to grow,” said Igor Kwiatkowski, Executive Manager, Qantas Freight.

“Whether it's a customer making a purchase from a Black Friday sale or a small business sending orders across the country, Australians expect fast and reliable delivery. These new aircraft will help us move more parcels across our network and provide additional capacity at a time when online shopping continues to grow and major retail events are driving record parcel volumes. Together with Qantas, we're investing in the infrastructure that keeps Australia connected. The addition of these aircraft, alongside the opening of Western Sydney International Airport's 24-hour freight terminal, will help strengthen the resilience and capacity of our network for years to come,” said Mark Davies, Australia Post General Manager Linehaul Fleet and Special Services.