Qantas Unveils New Lie-Flat Business Class For A321XLR & B787-9
Lie-flat beds and privacy doors are coming to Qantas' narrowbody fleet
Qantas has today revealed a new lie-flat business class seat for its Airbus A321XLR, giving passengers on the aircraft's international routes a true premium experience for the first time.
Qantas has earmarked 16 of its total 48 Airbus A321XLRs on order to receive lie-flat seats in business class. Deliveries of these aircraft are set to commence in 2028. To date, a total of 7 A321XLRs have been delivered to Qantas, but these feature recliner seats at the pointy end.
The new business suites on these next generation narrowbody aircraft have been designed to transform the travel experience on longer routes, including transcontinental services to and from Perth, and on short and medium haul international routes.
Qantas has also revealed an updated Boeing 787 business class product that adds sliding privacy doors and larger entertainment screens. The airline says the new business suites will land on its "additional Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners on order" – of which Qantas only has four – with deliveries commencing from 2028.
Currently, the airline has not mentioned if this seat will come delivered on its eight 787-10s on order, or be retrofitted to the existing 787-9 fleet.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said the new Suites reflected how demand for premium travel had shifted.
"Investing in new aircraft is one of the most significant ways we can enhance the flying experience…These new Suites on our next generation narrowbody fleet are another step in that journey, transforming the premium cabin experience and the level of comfort for our customers flying on longer domestic and short and medium haul international services."
Lie-flat Business Class Coming to Qantas A321XLR
Based on initial renders, Qantas has selected the Thompson Aero Vantage Solo seat in business class for its international A321XLR subfleet. Airlines including JetBlue in the US and Iberia in Spain are already deploying the same seat on their narrowbodies.
The Vantage Solo supports a larger front-row ‘business plus’ option, though Qantas hasn't confirmed whether it will offer this. We'll likely have to wait for another announcement on that front.
Qantas business class on the A321XLR will be arranged in a 1-1 configuration, in an angled herringbone layout. This means that business class passengers will sit facing into the aisle, with their backs to the window.
Of course the fact that this is a proper lie-flat, direct aisle access seat with closing privacy doors in business class is the main story.
Qantas has confirmed its A321XLR business class suite will include:
- Lie-flat bed
- Closing privacy door
- 19-inch entertainment screen
- Wireless and USB-C charging
- Generous storage
Qantas Boeing 787 Gets New Business Class
Qantas has also revealed an upgraded business suite for its next batch of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners on order. These seats appear to be the Thompson Aero Vantage XL+, the next-generation evolution of the original VantageXL seat Qantas currently deploys on its 787s.
Qantas will retain the same layout, with 42 business class suites in a 1-2-1 configuration on the Boeing 787-9.
Just like the A321XLR, the headline is closing privacy doors, a first for the Qantas Dreamliner. In addition, the seatback screen jumps from 16” to 19”.
The lie-flat bed is the same 2 meters (80”) in length, but offers a wider footwell customised by Qantas after ergonomic trials and customer feedback.
Summing Up
Qantas has confirmed lie-flat business suites with closing doors are coming to 16 of its A321XLRs from 2028, and to four incoming 787-9 Dreamliners.
It’s still unclear whether the eight 787-10s on order or the existing 787-9 fleet will get the same seat, and whether Qantas will offer a larger 'business plus' suite up front on the A321XLR.
