Qantas to fit new business class suites on A321XLR and 787 fleets

Qantas has announced a new business class product for part of its incoming narrowbody fleet. The airline said a number of its future Airbus A321XLR aircraft will be fitted with suites arranged in a 1-1 layout, each with a sliding door, a 19-inch screen and free WiFi.

According to Qantas, this marks the first time it has offered fully flat beds on a single-aisle aircraft. The carrier said 16 A321XLR jets will receive the configuration, with the first deliveries expected in 2028. These aircraft are intended for longer domestic Australian routes as well as some international sectors.

Qantas also said additional Boeing 787-9 aircraft will receive a revised business class cabin. Each of these widebody jets will carry 42 suites, and for the first time on the 787 they will include sliding doors, the airline said. The lie-flat beds in the new cabin measure roughly 203 centimetres in length.

No further detail was given on the total number of 787s to be refitted or the timeline for that programme beyond the 2028 start date mentioned for the A321XLR rollout. Qantas has not disclosed pricing or specific route assignments for either aircraft type beyond the general reference to longer domestic and international flying.