Australian flag carrier Qantas is set to embark on a major upgrade program of its Boeing 737 fleet with larger overhead lockers set to eliminate the stress of finding space for your hand luggage.
From 2027, the airline will start a complete retrofit of 42 of its older Boeing 737s with new Business and Economy Class seats, along with mood lighting, carpets, Wi-Fi, and new overhead lockers that will provide 50% more storage space.
Qantas says passengers will feel like they are stepping onboard a brand new plane, which will align the customer experience with the airline’s latest fleet additions like the Airbus A220 and the soon-to-be-delivered Airbus A321XLR aircraft.
“Investing in our fleet is one of the most significant ways that we can transform the flying experience for our customers and make sure we’re consistently delivering a great journey,” commented Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson.
“Previous cabin upgrade programs have delivered great outcomes for our customers and allowed us to bring next-generation designs and technologies to the current fleet that reflect how our customers want to travel,” Hudson added.
Qantas has a fleet of 75 Boeing 737s, although some of these aircraft already have newer cabin interiors, while others are expected to be retired in the next few years, meaning that not all airplanes within the fleet need a full retrofit.
Along with the Boeing 737 refit program, Qantas also plans to install new Economy seats on its Airbus A330 fleet. These seats are the same that will be installed on the airline’s ultra-long-haul Project Sunrise aircraft with larger entertainment screens and Bluetooth connectivity.
In the coming years, Qantas intends to replace some of its Boeing 737 fleet with larger Airbus A321XLR aircraft. The first of 28 Airbus A321XLR entered final assembly last November and has recently been painted in the iconic Qantas delivery ahead of its official delivery in April.
Qantas will become one of the first airlines in the world to operate the longer-range Airbus A321XLR, after Spanish flag carrier Iberia and fellow IAG-owned carrier Aer Lingus.
Rather than making full use of the A321XLR’s superior range, however, Qantas initially plans to use the aircraft on domestic flights currently operated by Boeing 737s, although the planes will eventually be used to open up new international flights to South East Asia and the Pacific islands.
On Thursday, Qantas said that it had seen improvements in customer satisfaction scores but acknowledged that more progress was needed, with on-time performance, inflight service and frequent flyer awards all identified as focus areas for the airline.
