New Business Class for Qantas’ twelve Airbus A380s

Qantas continues to rely on its twelve Airbus A380s, which are expected to fly at least until 2029. The Australians have therefore decided to gradually upgrade the superjumbos, which are already ten years old on average, by the end of 2020 as part of an upgrade worth millions. The first A380 with a new interior has recently been put into service.

The most important change: Business Class in Qantas’ Airbus A380s will grow from 64 to 70 seats and Premium Economy Class from 35 to 60 seats. The two classes will share the upper deck. In return, 30 seats will disappear in Economy Class, which in the future will only have 341 seats on the lower deck – together with First Class, which will retain its 14 seats.

Nevertheless, a total of 485 passengers fit into the A380 – one more than before. According to Qantas, this makes “more intelligent use of the available space” possible. The lounge for First and Business Class on the upper deck will be significantly enlarged. It now offers space for ten people and, in addition to a new design, also has a new self-service bar. Passengers can also order cocktails, snacks and light meals.

While Qantas only offers new upholstery and new pyjamas and amenity kits for the A380’s First Class, the Skybed seats in Business Class will be replaced by new seats like those already available in the Boeing 787. Thanks to a 1-2-1 configuration, all passengers have direct access to the aisle. The length of the bed remains unchanged at 203 cm. The screen, on the other hand, increases from 12 to 16 inches.

The new seats in the Premium Economy Class are also already known from the Boeing 787. They are arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration and 10 percent wider than their predecessors. In Economy Class, the airline is confining itself to a new colour scheme. Qantas plans to convert three Airbus A380s by the end of 2019. They will then be in service throughout the A380 network – from Sydney to Singapore, Hong Kong, London, Dallas and Los Angeles and from Melbourne to Los Angeles and Singapore.

Click here to go to the website of Qantas

The first two pictures show the First Class, the second two the Business Class. These are followed by a picture of Premium Economy and Economy Class – and at the end the new lounge on the upper deck: