Qantas Upgrades B747 Product to A380 Standard

NEW YORK, March 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Qantas will introduce its fourth newly-fitted Boeing 747-400 (B747) to its international network later this month, offering more customers a new in-flight experience.

Qantas Executive Manager Customer Experience, Alison Webster, said international customers traveling on Qantas' newly-fitted B747 aircraft were delighted with the new product and service offering, which is aligned with our flagship A380 offering.

"In-flight entertainment is now available on larger personal screens with over 1,500 content selections," Webster said. 

"Our customers in Business now enjoy new cabin mood lighting and the award-winning fully-flat Skybed designed by Marc Newson and our Economy customers also receive a new level of comfort with a custom designed seat featuring a unique footrest net and ergonomic cushioning and a self-service snack bar," added Webster.

"The fourth newly-fitted B747 is scheduled to enter service by the end of March."

The B747 Reconfiguration Program includes the complete retrofit of the aircraft interior, including new seats and new cabin configurations. The newly-configured aircraft are fitted with 364 seats: 58 Business, 36 Premium Economy and 270 Economy. The seats in all three cabins have won awards for their design and comfort, including the 2009 Australian International Design Award for the Economy seat.

By the end of June, Qantas will have six newly-fitted B747 aircraft operating on long haul Pacific routes including New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and Santiago.

For First customers traveling between the US and Australia, the A380 First suite will continue to be available on QF11 and QF12 (Los Angeles/Sydney) and QF93 and QF94 (Los Angeles/Melbourne).

The remaining three newly-fitted B747 aircrafts will be introduced across the long haul Pacific routes and Brisbane – Singapore by the end of October 2012. 

Qantas will have a fleet of 12 A380s and nine newly-fitted B747 aircraft by the end of this year.

 A time lapse video of an aircraft undergoing the reconfiguration is available on qantas.com.

About Qantas Airways

Qantas is the only airline offering A380 service from the U.S. on select non-stop flights from Los Angeles to Sydney and to Melbourne. The Qantas A380 features aircraft interiors designed by internationally renowned industrial designer and Qantas Creative Director Marc Newson. Providing over 40 flights per week from the U.S., Qantas offers 34 nonstop flights from Los Angeles (to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland), six from Dallas/Fort Worth to Sydney, a daily direct service from JFK and three from Honolulu to Sydney.

SOURCE Qantas Airways