Qantas unveils new lie-flat business class suites for A321XLR and 787

Qantas has unveiled new business class suites for its future Airbus A321XLRs and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, featuring privacy doors and fully flat beds.

The Australian airline’s new cabin designs will begin arriving from 2028 as part of its multibillion-dollar fleet renewal programme.

The Airbus A321XLR marks the introduction of fully flat business class beds on a Qantas narrowbody for the first time. Incoming Boeing 787-9s will receive an upgraded version of the airline’s existing Dreamliner Business Suite, also featuring a sliding privacy door.

Qantas A321XLR gets lie-flat Business Suites

Qantas plans to install the new Business Suite on 16 A321XLRs intended for longer domestic and international services.

The cabin will use a 1-1 angled herringbone layout, giving every business class passenger direct aisle access. Each seat converts into a fully flat bed and includes a sliding privacy door.

Other features include a 19” inflight entertainment screen, wireless charging, USB-C power and dedicated storage for laptops and personal belongings.

Passengers will also have access to Qantas’ fast, free WiFi.

The first A321XLR fitted with the new cabin is expected to arrive in 2028.

“Investing in new aircraft is one of the most significant ways we can enhance the flying experience,” Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said. “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.”

Not all Qantas A321XLRs will have lie-flat seats

The new Business Suite will not be installed across the airline’s entire A321XLR fleet.

Qantas’ first A321XLRs have a 197-seat configuration, comprising 20 Business Class seats in a conventional 2-2 arrangement and 177 Economy seats.

The 16 aircraft receiving the new Business Suite will operate longer flights, including transcontinental services to and from Perth, as well as short- and medium-haul international routes.

The A321XLR can fly up to around 8,700km, according to Qantas, giving it more than 3,000km of additional range compared with the Boeing 737s it is progressively replacing.

That allows Qantas to use a narrowbody aircraft on longer routes across Australia, Asia and the Pacific while offering a premium product more comparable with its widebody fleet.

New Qantas Boeing 787-9s also get private Business Suites

Qantas is also upgrading the business class cabin aboard the additional Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners joining its fleet.

The new aircraft will feature 42 Business Suites, each with direct aisle access and a sliding privacy door. It will be the first time Qantas has offered a closing door in business class on the 787.

The suites convert into fully flat beds measuring 80“ long and feature wider footwells. Qantas said the footwell design was refined following ergonomic trials and customer feedback.

Passengers will also receive larger 19” in-flight entertainment screens and additional storage.

The cabin incorporates Australian design elements, including colours inspired by the red earth of Western Australia’s Pilbara region.

Qantas said the upgraded seats build on its existing 787 Business Suite rather than introducing an entirely different product.

Qantas upgrades premium seating on the 787

Premium seating on the new Dreamliners will be a step up from Qantas’ existing 787-9s. The airline’s current Dreamliners accommodate 236 passengers, with 42 Business Class, 28 Premium Economy and 166 Economy seats.

The new Dreamliners will retain 42 Business Class seats, the same number as Qantas’ existing 787-9s, but introduce the upgraded suite with a sliding privacy door. 

Qantas also said its next-generation aircraft will carry a higher proportion of premium seats than the aircraft they replace, as premium cabin revenue across its international network is growing at twice the rate of Economy.

The additional Dreamliners form part of the airline’s international fleet renewal alongside its incoming Airbus A350 aircraft, including the specially configured A350-1000ULRs being introduced for Project Sunrise ultra-long-haul services.

Qantas brings widebody comfort to the A321XLR

While both aircraft types receive upgraded cabins, the A321XLR represents the biggest change in Qantas’ business class strategy.

Lie-flat seats, direct aisle access and closing doors have traditionally been features associated with long-haul widebody aircraft. The A321XLR’s range increasingly allows airlines to operate narrowbody aircraft on routes long enough for passengers to expect a comparable premium experience.

For Qantas, the distinction between the narrowbody and widebody business class passenger experience will diminish beginning in 2028.

Passengers aboard the specially configured A321XLRs will enjoy many of the same features as those flying on the airline’s new 787-9s: a fully flat bed, direct aisle access, a 19” in-flight entertainment screen and a private suite with a closing door.