On March 1, 2024, the first two of 29 Airbus A220 jet aircraft took off for their inaugural commercial flights. They are significantly more fuel efficient than the Boeing 717 they will replace. Not only is the state-of-the-art A220 almost 50 per cent quieter than previous generation aircraft, but it also generates up to 25 per cent fewer carbon emissions. With almost double the range, the A220 can fly between any two points in Australia and to several offshore destinations. Qantas called on fellow Australians to help name its fleet of new A220s, asking for the public to vote on names based around the theme "native wildlife". Clearly a favorite among voters, the name "Koala" of this adorable animal found its way onto the nose section of VH-X4B.