UPDATE | Qantas will overhaul its Airbus A380 fleet from 2019 in a million-dollar make-over which will see all-new business class and premium economy seats plus a refresh of the first class suites.
PREVIOUS | Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has confirmed that the airline's flagship Airbus A380 fleet will be upgraded with new seats.
The much-anticipated refresh would likely see the superjumbo fitted with similar seats to the airline's Boeing 787-9 fleet in business class, premium economy and economy.
Speaking at a press conference for the airline's July-December financial result – which saw Qantas record a pretax profit of $852 million – Joyce said "we are (currently) working through our plans for upgrading the A380."
Joyce described such upgrades as typically taking place "when aircraft get to middle of their life... so you can expect over next year or so for us to comment on where this is going and when it will happen. But it will happen."
PREVIOUS | Qantas could begin upgrading its Airbus A380 fleet as early as 2018, with the superjumbos seeing new seats from tip to tail in order to sharpen their competitive edge on routes to the USA and London.
The airlines is believed to be planning an extensive A380 refurbishment program to fit the latest-generation seats created for the Qantas Boeing 787-9 – or a future evolution of same – to the double-decker jets.
It's notable that by the time Qantas' first Boeing 787-9 arrives in October 2017, the airline's original Airbus A380 will be close to ten years old – the point at which airlines typically begin a mid-life refresh for their largest jets.
Qantas' twelve superjumbos were delivered between September 2008 and December 2011, and the make-over could co-incide with their scheduled 'heavy maintenance' checks.
The upgrade would give the A380s a new lease of life for another 10-12 years, at which point they are likely to be retired in favour of next-gen aircraft such as the Boeing 777-X series (below) as Qantas moves to a new strategy of long-range non-stop flights.
The biggest winners from the A380 upgrade would be corporate travellers, with business class going from the current Skybed II seats with their lack of storage space and cramped 2-2-2 layout...
... to the Dreamliner Business Suite, which like the A330 Business Suite offers copious personal space, a massive 16 inch video screen and direct aisle access for every passenger.
The Skybed pods are a clear generation behind the business class curve and on US routes, for example, pale by comparison with Virgin Australia's Boeing 777 business class...
... that of Qantas' own partner American Airlines...
... United Airline's forthcoming Boeing 787 Polaris business class...
... and potentially Delta's Airbus A350 Delta One suites.
Qantas' Boeing 787's economy seats – with their 12 inch screens, inbuilt iPad stands and AC and USB power sockets – are also expected to make their way onto the A380's lower deck.
Qantas would also replace today's A380 premium economy seats with Dreamliner's all-new premium economy seats.
A revamp of the A380's first class cabin is also on the cards, although it's not known if Qantas will settle for a touch-up of today's first class, a total transformation to an all-new suite or strike somewhere in-between.
Also read: Is Qantas planning a first class cabin upgrade for the Airbus A380?
Qantas may also use the upgrade period to add inflight Internet and WiFi across the A380 fleet so that travellers can fire up their laptop, tablet or smartphone to tap into a high-speed satellite connection.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
15 Mar 2016
Total posts 169
Yeeees! J class is well overdue.
30 Jul 2015
Total posts 134
it hasn't been officially announced yet. so i will take this with a grain of salt
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1381
Grain of salt yes.. but it obviously has to happen.
30 Jul 2015
Total posts 134
agreed, it must happen, but it must be pondered if qantas will actually do it or not.
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 603
Excuse the English but why would they not do it? It either needs to be done or get rid of the A380's. Think the former is the more likley option.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2555
We wouldn't have written the article if this wasn't on the cards.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Apr 2013
Total posts 387
Hopefully QF announce that they are in the planning stages of an A380 refurb at the 787 PE reveal.
31 Mar 2014
Total posts 372
It will be funny to see during the refurb process all the people complaining about getting the old product instead of the new one.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1381
The 330s took roughly a month only for seats only, and two months combined with a major check.
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 654
throw in repaints into the new roo, and it's all on schedule to be complete by 2020 100th birthday :) . Of course it IS still ALL speculation, but I do enjoy stoking the fire :)
31 Mar 2016
Total posts 622
@moa999:
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 Feb 2015
Total posts 34
You may find it will be a relatively quick process as they could do more than 1 at a time.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Nov 2011
Total posts 363
This is purely speculative.....believe it when its announced. Too many " could" and "would".
13 Sep 2016
Total posts 13
I think ABT's track record is pretty good so far when it comes to being 'ahead of the curve' even when Qantas can't say it outright yet.
19 Sep 2015
Total posts 21
I think the newer QF seat is ahead of the UA Polaris seat. Polaris looks newer and cooler with all that marketing, but I think it's pretty mediocre even for today's standards. I wouldn't call QF's seat revolutionary by any means, but I think it's still average.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Aug 2012
Total posts 23
Would this update mean less J seats due to a 1,2,1 arrangement, or would they rejig the PE and upper deck Y numbers to accommodate ??
19 Nov 2012
Total posts 45
The new seat is more space efficient than Skybed II.
07 Oct 2012
Total posts 1249
Um, is there not 36 J seats on A330's with Skybed 1?
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 603
There is 36J on the international -200's, on the 300's it was 30.
19 Nov 2012
Total posts 45
36J is on the 2x 332 with Skybed I. Aircraft originally planned for disposal but now being kept and to be reconfigured at a later date.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jan 2014
Total posts 15
Has this been confirmed? Last I heard, the leasing company want the aircraft back as they have been on leased.
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 603
Doubt leasing company would 'want' them back especially when they have a customer who needs them.
18 Apr 2015
Total posts 67
Yes and I flew one of them in December. At a time when the 2 yr upgrade process should have been completed for all QF A330s, to be flying the old config A330, particularly in business, is not acceptable.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 470
The A380 cabin (upper deck) is wider than the A330 cabin by 52cm (a bit over 20 inches, or les than 2 feet). This will be a conundrum for QF, unless they redesign the J suites. The cabin will be too narrow for 5 across (say 2-1-2), but 4 across (1-2-1) will waste quite a lot of space. However, it they moved Business to the lower deck, then that cabin is 70cm wider, so I dare say they could fit 5 across there.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Jul 2016
Total posts 109
Why would you want 5 across??!! The aim is to only have 4 across!
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 603
You are assuming the exact same seat will be used.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Jul 2015
Total posts 10
Malaysia Airlines runs an alternating 5 across (1-2-1 then 1-2-2) in their A330. Although QF runs the Vantage XL model which is slightly wider, the extra cabin width in the A380 means it can be probably be done in the same config. Hope they create the Vantage XXL instead!
13 Sep 2016
Total posts 13
I've flown the Malaysia Airlines version of the seat, it's a bit cramped just like the Swiss version. I think we will see a wider version of the Qantas Business Suite to retain the 1-2-1 layout and add more room. PS 'Vantage XXL', I like it!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Jun 2013
Total posts 5
I quite like the skybed2. It's great for a couple and very spacious. Storage, screen and tray space could be improved, but the concept and current product is still pretty good. Some of the competitors products can be excessively claustrophobic.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
15 Mar 2016
Total posts 169
I would be ok with them if they were still flat but they're just not anymore. At least none I've been in lately have been. Time to go!
03 May 2013
Total posts 663
Alleluia!! Finally someone at Qantas awakes! QF's recent history of laaaaaagging hard product fleet and interiors is amazing considering they are not shy to say they are an innovative carrier. Isn't always reflected in reality. Anyway this is a brilliant move QF!
20 Sep 2012
Total posts 72
I think you missed the part where this is speculation. It's a little too early to be praising them.
20 May 2015
Total posts 583
We knew this had to happen, so its good to see its in the works.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 May 2014
Total posts 465
Or, Y could be Dreamliner dimensions and 11 across. Lets hope they don't go there!
20 May 2015
Total posts 583
I doubt they will. The A380 is arguably too big for QF anyway, adding more seats = more expensive reconfiguration, and more pax = less range which would make the Dallas route harder to operate.
05 May 2016
Total posts 634
On the Dallas route they can just not fill seats if the load is too high. It wouldn't make sense to have a different seating configuration just for the Dallas route as they couldn't guarantee certain A380 aircraft would only ever fly on that route.
26 Oct 2015
Total posts 7
This is real reason why allan jorcye did not announce premium economy seats for 787s when did the rebranding announcement as they will get full refurbishment and rebranding at the same time along with check that were mentioned in the article .
13 Sep 2016
Total posts 13
The 787 starts flying in less than 12 months and the A380 refurb wouldn't be for a few years, so the 787 premium economy seat HAS to be launched before the A380 refit. ABT has reported it will be launched this month or next.
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
12 Sep 2011
Total posts 348
About time! Only bothered once on the A380 from MEL-LAX Horibble appauling slant beds in Business advertised as full flat beds! And they didn't even keep their own aircraft for our connection to JFK waiting for us! What a bonus as we were all rebooked on a decent business class with full flat beds from LAX-JFK
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 470
QF will hold the LAX-JFK aircraft for about an hour to wait for late incoming connections. But if they wait longer than that, they then cause problems with slots at JFK and the turnaround to get back to LAX for the outbound flights. So if the flights from MEL or SYD are delayed by more than about an hour, they don't hold the 747 past that.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Jul 2014
Total posts 22
Sorry cbourl, but if my memory serves me correctly the A380 has had Skybed II (ie fully flat bed) since the aircrafts' introduction into QF fleet. Perhaps you didn't push the button long enough. It was the modified 747s that were fitted with Skybed I, the angled bed. But please correct me if I'm wrong. Even so, I must admit that whenever I fly F or J Class I don't want the bed to be fully flat. Anyone with a knowledge of aerodynamics will know that aircraft always cruise with a "nose-up" pitch. Hence I find it much more comfortable to have about a 5 to 10 degree elevation on my lie flat bed to keep my head at least level with my feet. Personal choice perhaps. Others may enjoy sleeping with their head lower than their feet.
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
12 Sep 2011
Total posts 348
was meant to be a fully flat bed -crew couldn't help me with it and told me that was QF product _ am fully versed with flat beds in both F and C on Lufthansa,Swiss,Cathay,Singapore Air,Thai,EVA,Etihad etc This was a one off flight on QF as an Alaskan Air booking - and as for the previous reply we landed on time to connect to QF to JFK QF just decided to rebook everyone The 747 QF product in C im aware of also - I did it last year to connect to Swiss F - for the flight from MEL to HKG it is adequate and perhaps better than the CX product in terms of width and food offerings 5K on the 747 is particularly good on QF It is a shame the lounge offerings in MEL and some old boiler staff on QF are inadequate - at least on the ground you can visit the Cathay Pacific lounge at MEL which beats QF Int C lounge @ MEL by a million miles!
29 Oct 2016
Total posts 35
United's backwards facing business seats had some grumbling but apart from takeoff they were much better for sleeping laid fully flat than the forward facing seats for the reason mentioned.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Sep 2012
Total posts 389
I'm really loving this whole phase of Qantas reinvention. New planes, new inflight, great staff, new lounges, great FF. Im booking them more often than not these days.
18 Nov 2015
Total posts 118
There can only be two possibilities:
07 Oct 2012
Total posts 1249
Option 2 is not really an option.
13 Mar 2015
Total posts 1
Refirb very badly needed in J as I have just booked 2 longhaul J Class trips (Frankfurt and London) on SQ/NZ...... the old 2-2-2 is costing Qantas bookings directly. Unless you manage to get an EK aircraft and a QF flight number of course!
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 603
Costing bookings? Most flights I've done they seem pretty full and frequent flyer forums always complaining about lack of reward availability on the A380 flights. So says to me no lack of sales and bookings.
02 Dec 2016
Total posts 31
Do the new 787 economy seats result in greater width and pitch?
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 603
Width no, pitch yes, but not sure the connection to a possible A380 reconfig. You cannot easily compare like that.
02 Dec 2016
Total posts 31
The article states the 787 economy seats would make their onto the A380 lower deck. I'm wondering if in doing that the pitch will increase. But that would only happen, for the same number of seats, if the seats shrank. So better question would to wonder if they will reduce number of rows to increase pitch? Seems unlikely.
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 603
Think you are reading far to literally and the question re pitch would be far too early to tell.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Mar 2016
Total posts 55
Great news I avoid Qantas business class on the A380 & 747 due to the skybeds not that I find them uncomfortable just the fact of having to climb over someone or be climbed over plus they don't have the best storage. I love the A330 new business class with its storage space and privacy. I was lucky enough to get business class seats on points from Gold Coast to Barcelona in May-July and thankfully except for the domestic flight to and from Sydney I am on Emirates A380 but would rather go on Qantas if they had the same seats as the A330.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1381
Middle seats are all aisle. Although agree about the storage part, apart from the window seats in A380 or 747 upper deck
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Aug 2014
Total posts 216
Oh, thank god... FINALLY!!
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 1013
This is something that has been expected for some time.
The stated plan for the first 8 787s is to allow the retirement of the last 5 non ER 744s (3 of which have the 380 seats), but the announced routes won't displace any 747s and would require 4 or 5 frames. The announced PER-LHR route may displace 2 A380s, depending on what happens with MEL-DXB-LHR.
If they refurb 2 A380s at the same time, during D checks, they would have to send 1 to FRA to be done. MNL can only have 1 A380 on the ground at a time.
When they did the minor refit (remove rear J cabin, move W forward, add more Y) to the 380s, how long did each take?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 470
You're forgetting QF's new purpose-built A380 maintenance hangar at LAX, which can cater for 4 A380s at any one time. I'm presuming QF is now planning to do all its own A380 heavy maintenance.
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 1435
John I doubt that hanger will be used for a D check. Too complex and takes a month or more. QF will use Philippines or Frankfurt for that. LA will be used for B checks that take a day or so and they may add BA and EK to the list to do B checks for.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
06 Mar 2015
Total posts 232
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Nov 2011
Total posts 122
When travelling in a premium cabin space and service are my main concerns. When it comes to space, it's hard to beat the legroom QF J offers. It doesn't bother me the slightest stepping over my seat mate. I'd much rather the Skybed than the high walls of a Solstys J seat.
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
12 Sep 2011
Total posts 348
Absolutely not a good carrier
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 1435
The one thing this suggests is that the Melb-LHR A380 flight is doomed. It may terminate at Dubai or maybe not. They do need to free up a plane to do the refurb. After they are all done in 18months or so it will be A380s to HK.
21 Aug 2015
Total posts 86
QF Jclass is a totally inferior product. Only a mug would buy it. An upgrade is long over due as are 777/787/350 aircraft.
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
12 Sep 2011
Total posts 348
Abosultely QF is NOT a decent International carrier Even slant beds on SQ ADL-SIN-ADL beat QF A30 skybeds in terms of hard and soft product on board and on ground!!
13 Sep 2016
Total posts 14
Yes, the Qantas A380 business class is well behind the rest of the industry but to say "only a mug would buy it" shows you have little knowledge of the travel business. Many companies have to fly Qantas because it's policy, and many people prefer to fly Qantas because the seat's still not that bad and they like the lounge, status, service etc.
Personally I always book the middle block of seats on the A380 so that I don't have to climb over anybody or have anybody climbing over me. I don't really need the view from a window seat, you only have a view there when taking off and landing anyway.
19 Aug 2011
Total posts 54
What a fantastic business opportunity for Qantas.
14 Jun 2013
Total posts 354
1. Comfortable bed: Business Suite already gives you that but agree with others here, a wider version to make use of the A380's wider upper deck would be welcome.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
06 Mar 2015
Total posts 232
Davedownunder. Not only do Emirates have a poor product on their B777 their A380 is woeful as well!!! I have travelled a few times on both and IMOP Emirates have one of the worst J class in the whole region, never again ! There are so many far better than EK and QF as well. Shop around , there's no point in putting up with an inferior product when there are so many great ones available!!
15 Dec 2015
Total posts 20
Emirates A380 J class is fully flat, with aisle access.
15 Dec 2015
Total posts 20
Emirates A380 J class is fully flat, with aisle access.
19 Aug 2011
Total posts 54
I think that Emirates A380 product is OK, whilst not the best at least four across instead of 5 on the 777 which was the issue. Qantas adopted a six across layout on their A380s which means if your sitting on the window you need to climb over someone. With Emirates on their 777s if your in the middle seat then you need to climb over someone to get out.
03 May 2012
Total posts 113
Agree that change to the Suite is welcome, but at 6'5" and 115 kgs I will take a Skybed II and occasionally stepping over someone (no big deal with my legs) than being crammed into EK J for hours on end where all the width in the seat is taken up with a gimmick of a lukewarm fridge, when I can easily ask a flight attendant for a cold drink.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Apr 2012
Total posts 314
Wish they could adopt the seat cushion/mattress on the current A380 "F" class into the new 787 J class suite... i reckon it is still the most comfortable seat in the sky... not too hard and not too soft, and really breathable... perfect for a good rest.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Jan 2017
Total posts 40
As a proud Aussie, I would naturally love to support our national carrier, however when I am forking out 6K plus for a J class seat and I compare what Qantas offers with regards to hard product and service and their competitors. Qantas should concede with red cheeks- seriously, Qantas have a look at Qatar, Etihad, Singapore, even your partner Emirates who make you look cheap and nasty. Qatar offer in J - single aisle access, modern latest seats, A380 proper stand-up inflight bar; not a red park bench, dine when you want, wifi, impeccable service not grouchy old and tired QF crew. So I say stuff loyality when Qantas prefers to line the pockets of their CEO instead of using their profits to invest into their customers inflight experience.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Apr 2015
Total posts 3
I agree! The new Premium Economy seats still have the person in front in your lap when laid back still causing difficulties getting out to go to the loo. To me, its same old same old! A real shame when they can do better!
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1191
It's hard to get too excited about this announcement. Everyone knows that the A380 product needs a refresh and today's announcement is that in the next year or so QF will make another announcement as to when they plan to commence the upgrade. On this basis, it is probably at least 2 years before the actual product is installed.
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 1435
I suspect they will start the refurb from the middle of next year after the 787s free up the A380s that ply the Melb-Dubai-LHR. They will do it with the D checks so it will be a couple of months for each. 18 months or so all up. In 2020 when they have a full complement back, then new HK and other routes announced,
03 May 2013
Total posts 663
The MkII are a joke now 2-2-2 and slanting foot rests which don't quite qualify for fully flat as per spin pics. They may have been 180 degrees in the first few months but very quickly lost that when foot rests started to give way.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Feb 2017
Total posts 2
To LA it's all about the extra leg room with Virgin (can't wait for MEL-LAX direct) for my clients.
09 Apr 2015
Total posts 5
Meanwhile there are A330s in the fleet with seats and screens from the '80s and they are badly letting the Qantas product down.
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 603
Bit melodramatic I would say.... There are two a/c that you speak of, you know the history behind them like everyone else on this board, Qantas is apparently going to bring them up to current standards soon enough.
Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
27 Feb 2017
Total posts 3
The Transpacific J cabin competition is tough but Qantas is not that far behind. Polaris and Delta One suite are not coming to Australia Anytime soon. United's Dreamliners will be the last model to be upgraded in its fleet (2025+?); So will Delta's 77Ls + their first A359 is still on the assembly line and will be based in DTW anyway. American's 77W has a shinny new cabin but it won't beat Qantas on soft product. The only real threat is Virgin.
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