Qantas’ first upgraded international A330 has entered service, following the recent introduction of the first reconfigured domestic A330 in December. The refurbished A330 was introduced on the Melbourne to Singapore route on 17 January.
Business class passengers onboard the aircraft can make use of lie-flat seats, while Economy class passengers are provided with a next-generation slimline seat from Recaro. The in-flight entertainment (IFE) system has also been upgraded to Panasonic’s eX3 IFE system.
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said: “When you combine our investment in lounges with what we’re offering onboard our upgraded A330s, it puts Qantas in a very strong position to retain and win customers on key routes to Asia.
“Our first domestic aircraft has been operating for a little more than two weeks and we have received rave reviews from crew and our passengers…On top of the two years of research and development, more than 200 engineers and support staff at our Brisbane hangar are working on the reconfiguration programme, with around 10,000 hours spent on each international aircraft.”
More than half of Qantas’ 28 A330s are expected to be refurbished by the end of 2015, with the full fleet to be renovated by the end of 2016.
