Profiled: The next generation of aircraft arriving in Australia

In December, Qantas began its Project Winton fleet renewal program by welcoming its first Airbus A220. It marks the start of a new era of aircraft design that uses advances in engine technology and fuselage materials to travel further while burning less fuel in smaller planes. Here, we profile the new recruits.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Despite the controversy with the narrow-body MAX, the wide-body 787 has been a quiet success for the American planemaker since its first delivery to Japan’s All Nippon Airways in 2011. As airlines pivoted away from double-decker aircraft such as the A380 and 747, the Dreamliner filled the gap by being both a workhorse suited to middle-range routes as well as being able to fly ultra-long-haul. Already, it’s the aircraft chosen by Qantas to fly directly from Perth to London and Auckland to New York – two of the longest services in the world.

Arguably, it was the 787 that initiated the next-generation revolution. The aircraft was the first commercial airliner mostly made of carbon composites or super durable plastics. This mini-revolution in manufacturing meant the Dreamliner could be more fuel-efficient and fly far further than similarly sized aircraft. The 787 also has a uniquely space-age feel inside the cabin – gone are conventional window shades, for example, in favour of a button that gradually dims the light. It even sounds different, with an electric whirr replacing the traditional hydraulic hiss.