Qantas, the flag carrier airline of Australia, has revealed the next generation of business-class experiences for its new Airbus A321XLR and Boeing 787-9 aircraft. These seats are important for Qantas as it is experiencing higher levels of demand for premium travel classes than its economy seats, with its premium cabin revenues growing at twice the rate of economy-class revenues across its international network.
Thus a higher proportion of premium seats will be installed on the next- generation aircraft joining the Qantas fleet than the aircraft they replace, as part of the largest fleet renewal in the airline’s history.
Qantas’ first lie-flat suites on a single-aisle aircraft
The airline’s incoming A321XLRs will serve long routes, including transcontinental services to and from Perth, as well as short-haul and medium-haul international routes. The A321XLRs has a range of up to 8,700 kilometres, which is more than 3,000 kilometres further than the airline’s current Boeing 737s.
In order to ensure it has a competitive customer offer among rivals with suites in their narrowbody aircraft, Qantas is introducing a new Business Suite on its A321XLR fleet, marking the first fitment of a lie-flat bed on a Qantas single-aisle aircraft.
The seats will be arranged in a 1-1 configuration in an angled herringbone layout, which gives every customer in the business-class cabin a lie-flat bed and a sliding privacy door.
Each suite features a 19-inch inflight entertainment (IFE) display, wireless and USB-C charging for devices, access to fast and free cabin wi-fi, and in-seat storage spaces that can accommodate  a laptop and personal items.
The first of the 16 A321XLRs due to be configured with the new Business Suites is scheduled to arrive in 2028.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson commented that the new Suites reflect how demand for premium travel had shifted. “Investing in new aircraft is one of the most significant ways we can enhance the flying experience. Qantas introduced Business Class to the world in 1979, and we’ve continued to redefine what it means ever since.
“These new Suites on our next-generation narrowbody fleet are another step in that journey, transforming the premium cabin experience and the level of comfort for our customers flying on longer domestic and short and medium haul international services.”
An evolved Suite for Qantas’ new Boeing 787-9s
Qantas has also unveiled an evolution of its Business Suite for the additional Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners on order. The 42 Suites on each of these aircraft will feature a sliding privacy door – a first for a Qantas Dreamliner.
The updated version of the existing seat, which is based on the Vantage XL platform by Thompson Aero Seating. The seat retains its 80-inch long lie-flat bed (tweaked to create a little more space) and gains a larger IFE display (now 19 inches rather than 16), and a wider footwell. The footwell is a custom feature for Qantas, engineered in response to ergonomic trials and customer feedback.
The materials choices of the new Qantas Business Suites are inspired by the Australian landscape, including the restyled personal storage space trimmed in a rich colour inspired by the red earth of Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
