Aviation Biju John | May 28, 2026

Qantas has unveiled Great Barrier Reef livery on its newest Airbus A321XLR

Qantas has unveiled a striking Great Barrier Reef livery on its newest Airbus A321XLR, named Coral Sea. The aircraft rolled out of Airbus’ Hamburg paint shop and will be flown to Australia next month, becoming the seventh of 48 A321XLRs on order.

Aircraft Range:
The A321XLR can fly 3,000 km further than the Boeing 737 it replaces, opening up longer domestic and regional routes.

Design:
The livery features sea turtles, clownfish, and coral, celebrating Qantas’ partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

Tourism Impact:
The Reef welcomed 2.3 million visitors last year, contributing over $44 billion in visitor expenditure to Queensland.

Partnership:
Qantas has supported reef restoration since 2009, committing $10 million over 10 years to coral recovery projects.

Network Expansion:
Qantas and Jetstar added 10 new routes to Queensland in 2025, including Brisbane–Vanuatu, Manila, and Palau.

Upcoming Services:
The A321XLR will soon operate international flights, with the first route set for Brisbane–Manila in October 2026.

This livery is more than just eye-catching—it’s a flying ambassador for reef conservation, carrying the story of one of the world’s greatest natural wonders to millions of passengers and onlookers.