JETSTAR Airways has announced a major revamp of its Boeing 787 international fleet, with the airline to invest in multi-million-dollar upgrades.
The funding will provide new low-cost travel opportunities, with the potential extended range opening the possibility of direct flights from Australia as far as India, Sri Lanka, or Africa.
Lie-flat crew rest areas will enable Jetstar to fly greater distances, although no decisions have been made yet about future routes.
Customers will be provided with more comfort and choice, with the upgrade to involve overhauling the Business and Economy class cabins with new seating and inflight connectivity.
All Business and Economy seats are being replaced with next-generation ergonomic designs by RECARO Aircraft Seating, which will weigh less to aid fuel burn.
The Business offering will more than double in response to growing premium demand, increasing from 21 seats to 44, while developing new ways for customers including Club Jetstar members to book a Business seat.
Business will also include device holders, a power outlet, headrests, and a generous recline; to accommodate these extra seats, the total capacity for the aircraft will drop by 10 to 325.
Economy will feature seatback smartphone and tablet holders, a power outlet to keep devices charged, and six-way headrests for head and neck support.
Jetstar customers will also be able to stay connected in the air for the first time with onboard wi-fi, which will allow for surfing the internet or streaming content from the airline’s entertainment collection.
Customers will be able to access in-flight connectivity using their own devices, as the fleet’s current seatback screens will be removed, to further reduce overall aircraft weight and fuel burn.
The multi-million-dollar investment in each aircraft will progressively be completed during scheduled maintenance from late 2025.
