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Qantas fleet renewal and cabin upgrades

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2026-08-28 09:22 UTC → 2026-08-31 18:03 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Qantas is executing a major fleet renewal and cabin upgrade program to meet rising premium travel demand. The airline is accelerating the retirement of its Airbus A380 fleet, moving the phase-out date from 2032 to 2028 due to maintenance costs, supply chain challenges, and the need to mitigate high jet fuel prices. The full decommissioning of its 10 superjumbo aircraft is now expected by approximately 2030. This transition supports ‘Project Sunrise’, which will utilize 12 Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft to launch ultra-long-haul nonstop services, including Sydney to London in October 2027 and Sydney to New York thereafter. The shift reflects an industry trend prioritizing fuel efficiency and higher flight frequencies over the massive capacity of single aircraft, allowing the airline to transition toward point-to-point connections. To support these routes, Qantas is integrating Boeing 787s and additional Airbus A350s, aiming to replace approximately 70% of international seat capacity with next-generation aircraft by fiscal 2031. The airline is also in negotiations with Airbus and Boeing to convert purchase options into firm orders for approximately 20 additional widebody aircraft to secure capacity from 2030 onward. This standardization is intended to improve international operating margins to between 10% and 12% by fiscal 2032. Cabin upgrades are a central component of the strategy. For the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, Qantas will introduce new business class suites featuring sliding privacy doors, 80-inch lie-flat beds, wider footwells, and 19-inch entertainment screens, with deliveries expected to begin in fiscal 2028. Additionally, 16 Airbus A321XLR aircraft arriving in 2028 will feature a 1-1 angled herringbone configuration, providing lie-flat beds and direct aisle access on single-aisle aircraft for long domestic and medium-haul international routes. Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson noted that the investment responds to premium cabin revenue in the international network growing at twice the rate of economy class.

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