Qantas Freight and Australia Post are expanding their long-standing partnership with the arrival of the first of three additional Airbus A321 Passenger-to-Freighter (A321P2F) aircraft at Western Sydney. The investment is designed to strengthen domestic freight operations and accommodate rising demand for fast, dependable parcel deliveries across Australia.
Once all three aircraft enter service, they are expected to increase capacity across Qantas Freight’s dedicated freighter network by up to 20%. The expanded fleet will enable the airline to transport up to 20,000 Australia Post and StarTrack parcels on each flight, reinforcing connections between customers, businesses and communities nationwide.
The first aircraft arrives just weeks before Black Friday promotions and the peak Christmas delivery period, when millions of Australians increase their online purchases. Its introduction will help the two companies manage seasonal demand while supporting overnight and next-day delivery services across the country.
The additional freighters will serve all Qantas Freight domestic terminals, including the new 24-hour freight terminal at Western Sydney International (WSI) Airport, which began operations in July. The remaining two A321P2F aircraft are scheduled to join the fleet by March 2027.
Qantas Freight and Australia Post welcome the first additional Airbus A321P2F freighter at Western Sydney. Photo: Qantas Freight / Australia Post
The move to the bigger A321P2F aircraft will also increase the amount of freight carried per flight compared to the BAE 146-300 freighters being replaced. The new aircraft will not only be able to carry more parcels, but are also expected to help cut emissions and make freight operations more efficient across Australia.
“The investment is important in supporting the country’s logistics infrastructure,” said Igor Kwiatkowski, Qantas Freight Executive Manager.
Australia’s freight network is essential to connect businesses and communities across the country. “This investment will allow us to better support Australia Post and respond as demand for fast overnight deliveries continues to grow,” he said.
The fleet expansion comes after Qantas Freight and Australia Post announced in recent months they had extended their partnership for a further 10 years. Their love story began in 1922 when Qantas carried 106 letters on its first commercial flight.
The new agreement will see the companies continue to facilitate the movement of more than 75 million parcels and other freight items a year, both domestically and internationally.
“Reliable delivery services are still vital for consumers and businesses, especially during major retail events,” said Mark Davies, General Manager Linehaul Fleet and Special Services, Australia Post.
“Whether it’s a customer buying from a Black Friday sale or a small business sending orders across the country, Australians expect fast and reliable delivery,” he said.
“More capacity across the network will be possible with the addition of the extra aircraft as online shopping continues to grow, and major retail events create record parcel volumes,” Davies said.
“Working with Qantas, we’re investing in the infrastructure that keeps Australia connected. “The addition of these aircraft and 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,” he said.
“The addition of aircraft and the expansion of airport infrastructure will help our partners manage peak-season volumes while still providing reliable delivery service. The expansion is another part of preparing Australia’s parcel logistics network for continued growth, with two more A321P2F freighters due in by March 2027.
