Qantas To Refresh Aging B737 Business & Economy Cabins
Qantas plans to modernise 42 of its clapped-out 737’s by 2030.
The Qantas Group today revealed an underlying profit before tax of $1.39 billion, an increase of 11 percent, for the half year to 31 December 2024. With that, Qantas also revealed its plan to refresh 42 of their 75 aging Boeing 737-800 aircraft. These jets operate across the airline’s domestic network, as well as trans-Tasman and short-haul international routes to destinations including Bali, Fiji and Vanuatu.
Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson was excited for the refresh, explaining that previous cabin upgrade programs have delivered great products for customers.
“As we bring more new aircraft into our fleet, we are also making our existing aircraft look and feel like new."
Qantas will introduce a next-generation inflight experience across 42 of their existing B737 aircraft through an extensive cabin refresh program. The investment will see a nose-to-tail interior refresh with brand new Business and Economy seats, larger overhead bins with 50 percent more space, as well as new carpet, sidewalls and mood lighting.
Some of the remaining 33 aircraft will also receive some TLC with new seat covers, seat cushions, carpets and curtains. These aircraft will leave the fleet earlier than those receiving the full glow-up, with Qantas retiring its 737's in line with A321XLR deliveries.
The upgrade plans to deliver an as-new cabin, and while officially Qantas has not confirmed the exact seats it will use, during today’s address CEO Vanessa Hudson hinted that these refurbished 737’s will have “The same interiors as the A321XLR”.
For reference, Qantas’ first A321XLR is expected to arrive in Australia in April, with Business Class seating near identical to the QantasLink A220. The new jet will sport Recaro CL4710 seating in Business, with headline features including;
- 37” seat pitch
- 5” seat recline
- Adjustable headrest
- Calfrest and footrest
- Wireless charging pad
- USB-A and USB-C charging ports
- In arm tray table with tablet holder
- Seatback device holder
- Extendable cocktail table
Qantas’ A321XLR Economy seating also comes from the A220, with features including;
- 30” seat pitch
- 17.6” seat width
- Extra comfort seat cushioning
- Adjustable headrest
- USB-A and USB-C charging ports
- Seatback device holder
The first refurbished Boeing 737-800 is expected to start flying from 2027, with all 42 refreshed jets planned to be in the air by 2030. This means Qantas will operate a handful of retrofitted jets that are more than twenty years old.
These cabin upgrades are a critical part of Qantas' overall domestic fleet investment that will see the Airbus A321XLR progressively replace the Boeing 737-800 over the next decade, while more of the smaller Airbus A220's continue to join the fleet.
