Qantas unveil new business suites on A330

Qantas customers are set to enjoy a new standard of luxury on international flights to Asia, Hawaii and key domestic routes, with the airline unveiling the final design of new Business Suites to feature on its A330 fleet, to be progressively introduced from later this year.

A330 BUSINESS SUITE
– Designed in collaboration with
Marc Newson and Vantage XL Seat manufactured by Thompson Aero Seating;
– Additional storage and functional
workspaces to offer comfort, flexibility and privacy;
– Seats recline into a fully-flat bed and offer direct aisle access (1–2–1 configuration);

– Seats can be in recline position and fitted with the mattress from take-off right through to landing, maximising the opportunity for rest;
– A sizeable console next to the seat and the design of the meal tray means customers can dine while they work;
– New cotton duvet, mattress, increased pillow size and pyjamas (International);
– Qantas is the first to introduce a fully-flat bed for domestic business travellers on east-west flights, with beds that are the widest on the market;
– Do Not Disturb function; and
– Larger 16” inflight entertainment screens.

“The design was based on a real understanding of what Qantas customers needed on longer domestic flights and overnight international flights from Asia, with practicality, comfort, privacy and style in mind to create a relaxing environment to work, dine or sleep,” said Mr Newson.

The Economy cabins on all international A330s will be fitted with a next-generation model of the award-winning Recaro seat, an earlier version of which has been extremely popular with Qantas customers on the A380 and refurbished B747 aircraft. Economy seats on the A330-200s for Qantas Domestic will also be refreshed.

Customers in both cabins on the international A330 aircraft will be able to enjoy the latest Panasonic eX3 inflight entertainment system, with larger seatback touchscreens in addition to Q Streaming technology, enabling them to stream content from an extensive entertainment library directly to their own devices.

Domestic Business Class customers on A330 aircraft will also enjoy the same Panasonic eX3 system, while Economy customers will have an individual inflight entertainment experience through either seatback touchscreens or devices provided by Qantas in every seat.

The work to refresh the aircraft interiors – which will take about one month for each – will start at Qantas’ heavy maintenance facility in Brisbane next month. The first of the domestic refurbished A330 aircraft will take to the skies in late December from the east coast to Perth, and the first international A330 will commence flying in January 2015.

Qantas yesterday announced the construction of a new Domestic Business Lounge in Perth due to open in the third quarter of 2015, which combined with the A330s will set a new benchmark in domestic travel for customers travelling from Perth, both on the ground and in the air.

International and domestic routes currently serviced by Qantas A330s^

·         Sydney-Melbourne

·         Sydney-Brisbane

·         Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane to Perth

·         Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane to Singapore

·         Melbourne/Brisbane to Hong Kong

·         Sydney-Bangkok

·         Sydney-Jakarta

·         Sydney-Manila

·         Sydney-Honolulu

·         Sydney-Shanghai

* Subject to final CASA certification.

^ Business Suites and Panasonic eX3 entertainment systems to be progressively introduced on A330 aircraft from December 2014.