SYDNEY, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Qantas Airways Ltd said on Thursday it had chosen Airbus SE as the preferred supplier for 40 firm commitments and 94 purchase options to replace its domestic fleet in a switch from Boeing Co.

The airline had been in talks with Airbus, Boeing and Brazil's Embraer SA over the multi-billion dollar purchase of more than 100 narrowbody planes to replace ageing 75 737s and 20 717s.

It said subject to final board approval, an order was expected by June 2022, the end of its current financial year.

Deliveries would start in mid-2023 and continue over the next 10 years, the airline said. (Reporting by Jamie Freed; editing by Diane Craft)