Qantas starts B747 upgrade
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Qantas has commenced a major interior refurbishment of nine Boeing 747-400 aircraft. The AU$250 million (US$267 million) project will see the aircraft installed with Airbus A380-style seats and in-flight entertainment (IFE) units. The move comes as Qantas delays the delivery of its final six A380s for up to six years as part of its international restructuring plan.
“The new interiors will vastly improve the flying experience for tens of thousands of Qantas passengers every year,” Qantas CEO, Alan Joyce said. “Installing A380 style interiors on these B747 aircraft will provide passengers with more style, more comfort, more space and more entertainment.
“Since Qantas introduced the A380 in October 2008, there has been unprecedented demand for seats on these aircraft. This refurbishment programme will give more passengers the opportunity to fly to more destinations with a premium flying experience,” he added.
The project will see the current B747 cabin interiors completely stripped out and brand new cabin fittings, IFE systems and equipment installed. Each aircraft will take six weeks to be overhauled. On completion, each B747 will be fitted with 364 seats – 58 in Business Class, 36 in Premium Economy and 270 in Economy – all featuring Panasonic on-demand IFE systems with more than 1,500 entertainment options. Self-service snack bars will also be installed in Economy Class.
The first reconfigured B747 will commence services between Brisbane and Los Angeles in October, operating three return services per week. The remaining eight aircraft will be introduced across the international network by the end of 2012. Qantas is yet to determine which route the aircraft will fly. By the end of next year, the airline will have a fleet of 14 A380s and nine reconfigured B747 aircraft.
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