Qantas has unveiled its next-generation business class product, introducing new lie-flat suites for both its incoming Airbus A321XLR narrowbody fleet and its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The announcement marks the first time the Australian carrier will offer lie-flat seats with privacy doors on a single-aisle aircraft, with the new cabins scheduled to begin arriving in 2028 as part of the airline's broader fleet renewal program.
The airline plans to install the new Business Suites on 16 Airbus A321XLR aircraft assigned to longer routes. Arranged in a 1-1 angled herringbone configuration, every business class passenger will have direct aisle access. Each suite features a seat that converts into a fully flat bed, a sliding privacy door, a 19-inch in-flight entertainment screen, wireless and USB-C charging capability, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, and dedicated personal storage designed for laptops and travel belongings.
With an operational range of up to 8,700 kilometers—more than 3,000 kilometers beyond that of the Boeing 737—the A321XLR will serve transcontinental flights to and from Perth, as well as short- and medium-haul international routes. Concurrently, Qantas unveiled an updated Business Suite for its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The refreshed widebody cabin will retain 42 business suites per aircraft, introducing sliding privacy doors for the first time on a Qantas Dreamliner alongside 80-inch lie-flat beds featuring wider footwells developed through ergonomic testing.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson noted that the investment reflects a structural shift in premium travel demand, with premium cabin revenue across the airline's international network growing at twice the rate of economy class revenue. The airline confirmed that its next-generation aircraft joining the fleet will carry a higher proportion of premium seating compared with the aircraft they are set to replace.
