Qantas plans to overhaul 42 Boeing 737-800s with new interiors, including new business and economy class seats, mood lighting, sidewalls, carpet, and larger overhead bins. The refurbishment program will start in 2026 with in-service availability expected in 2027.
Though the twinjets currently fly with seatback inflight entertainment systems, it appears Qantas will eschew embedded IFE when it starts retrofitting the 737s next year.
The Australian flag carrier doesn’t explicitly state that it’s ditching the displays, but in a published statement — and in its exchanges with customers on social media — it emphasizes that the upgrade program will “align” the customer experience with the airline’s new domestic fleet.
And so, for guidance we turn to Qantas’ plans for its forthcoming new two-class Airbus A321XLRs, which will gradually replace the 737s starting with the oldest, and which will not have seatback IFE. Instead, A321XLR passengers will be able to avail of Qantas’ free Wi-Fi and wireless IFE, whilst going hands-free and powering up with seatback device holders and USB A + C power ports, respectively. Device holders and in-seat power are also a fixture on Qantas’ Airbus A220s.
“The cabin upgrades” for the Boeing 737s “are a critical part of the airline’s overall domestic fleet investment that will see the new Airbus A321XLR progressively replace the 737s over the next decade and more of the smaller A220s to join the fleet (with five new A220s currently in operation),” Qantas says in a statement. The first A321XLR is scheduled to arrive in June.
Qantas operates 75 Boeing 737-800s across its domestic network and trans-Tasman routes, as well as to short-haul international destinations like Bali, Fiji and Vanuatu. So the cabin refresh program will address more than half of this fleet.
“A number of our 737s are not even halfway through their lifespan yet, so still plenty of flying left in them,” the airline’s representatives note on social media. To wit, the carrier has also earmarked 23 737-800s to be equipped with more efficient split scimitar winglets; installs on seven -800s have already been completed.
Qantas is providing USB ports and device holders on its forthcoming A321XLRS. The carrier says it will align the passenger experience aboard its 737s with its new jets. Image: Qantas
The 42 Boeing 737s in line for upgrades are scheduled to leave the Qantas fleet towards the end of the carrier’s fleet renewal program. But even some of the remaining aircraft due to retire earlier will undergo cabin improvements, Qantas assures.
“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,” says Vanessa Hudson, CEO of Qantas Group, whose Jetstar-operated Boeing 787s and Qantas-flown A330-200 widebodies are also in line for cabin overhauls, as previously reported.
“As we bring more new aircraft into our fleet, we are also making our existing aircraft look and feel like new,” adds 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. This investment in cabins will also support our people who are dedicated to providing the best inflight experience to our customers.”
Indeed, Qantas has seen improved net promoter scores for new aircraft, both the Jetstar A321LRs and Qantas A220s, management confirmed during a recent earnings conference call.
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Featured image credited to Qantas
