Qantas says it is more than half way through the reconfiguration of its 28-strong Airbus A330 fleet with new business class seats and a refreshed economy cabin.
So far, Qantas has completed eight of its 10 A330-300s, which are mainly used on international routes to Asia and Honolulu, plus nine of the smaller capacity A330-200s flying with the new business class, which features 28 seats with direct aisle access and the ability for passengers to have their seats partially reclined during takeoff and landing.
“Our eighth reconfigured international A330 aircraft has taken to the skies, taking the total number of refurbished A330s across our domestic and international network to 17,” Qantas said in note to travel agents posted on its website on Friday.
“We’re more than halfway through our reconfiguration program and look forward to welcoming the next 11 aircraft.”
The program to reconfigure the entire fleet of 18 A330-200s and 10 A330-300s with the Thompson Aero Seating business class seats and refreshed Recaro-designed economy seats was expected to be completed by the end of 2016.
Virgin Australia completed the reconfiguration of its six Airbus A330-200s business class cabin with the B/E Aerospace Super Diamond reverse herringbone business class in November 2015. The Airbus widebodies are used on domestic routes between Perth and Australia’s east coast capitals and on services to Nadi on the Saturdays during select periods of the year.
The first of its five Boeing 777-300ERs, which fly from Australia to Los Angeles and Abu Dhabi, with the new business class seats was expected to take to the skies in April, Virgin chief executive John Borghetti said recently.
“All the major tests have been passed. There are just a couple of things to finalise but at this stage all is looking good,” Borghetti told Australian Aviation on February 11.
