QANTAS Airways (Sydney) has announced it will invest almost A$400 million in new international lounges, new inflight entertainment and aircraft refurbishment to improve the customer experience.ย The investment is part of the QANTAS Groupโs five-year plan to build a truly modern, customer-focused and competitive global airline business.
QF will construct a new First Lounge and Business Lounge in Los Angeles, three times the size of the current space, as well as new First Lounges in Singapore and Hong Kong.
Over the past five years QF has opened new First Lounges in Sydney and Melbourne, a new business lounge in Hong Kong and upgraded its business lounges in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Perth. QF has also upgraded its shared First and Business lounge in Bangkok and Narita.
In February 2010, QANTAS announced a $250 million upgrade for nine Boeing 747-400s to meet the changing demands of the airlineโs international customers. The first reconfigured Boeing 747-400 will commence services between Brisbane and Los Angeles in October 2011, operating three return services per week.
The remaining eight Boeing 747-400s with new product will be introduced over the next 12 months across the international network, offering customers Business (including the fully flat Skybed), Premium Economy and Economy cabins, and on-demand Panasonic IFE with over 1000 entertainment options in every seat.
Each of the aircraft will be fitted with 364 seats: 58 Business, 36 Premium Economy and 270 Economy. The seats in all three cabins have won awards for their design and comfort, including the 2009 Australian International Design Award for the Economy seat. All these aircraft offer the latest in comfort and design, with Panasonic on-demand inflight entertainment in every seat.
Seven new Boeing 737-800s are now operating on trans-Tasman routes with an eighth to arrive this week.
For the domestic network, QF has a total of 24 Boeing 737-800s, offering customers the latest in comfort and design and Panasonic on-demand inflight entertainment in every seat. Eighteen of these new aircraft will feature the new Boeing Sky Interior, the first of which is set to arrive in October this year. Four new A330s with the best in premium product are also currently operating domestically.
QANTAS Group also announced it would acquire up to 110 Airbus A320 aircraft, plus 194 purchase rights and options, to support its fleet renewal and growth for the next 10 to 15 years.
The Group has committed to order up to 110 A320s (106 confirmed from Airbus and four additional aircraft, either purchased or leased, subject to availability). These aircraft will facilitate capacity growth across Jetstarโs domestic and international operations, the launch of Jetstar Japan and the establishment of QANTASโ new premium Asia-focused airline – while the purchase rights and options provide the Group with significant flexibility to pursue further growth opportunities on favourable commercial terms.
The Group will become a major customer for the new more fuel-efficient A320neo. The commitment for 110 A320s includes 78 A320neos with 194 rights and options on further purchases.
In addition, as a result of the new strategy and network changes for QANTAS international, QANTAS will defer the delivery of its final six Airbus A380s by up to six years, driving substantial capital cost savings. QFโs A380 fleet will reach 12 aircraft by the end of 2011 and 14 aircraft by mid-2013. The remaining six A380s will be delivered to coincide with the retirement of QFโs last six Boeing 747-400 ER aircraft.
In summary, changes to the QANTAS Group fleet plan are as follows:
– The purchase of between 28 and 32 current-generation A320 aircraft.
– The purchase of 78 new A320neo aircraft with 194 rights and options for further purchases.
– The rescheduling of six A380 deliveries by up to six years.
The QANTAS Group, Japan Airlines Company, Ltd (JAL) and Mitsubishi Corporation announced today the launch of Jetstar Japan โ a new domestic airline that will bring more low airfares to customers in Japan.
The QANTAS Group, JAL and Mitsubishi Corporation will each hold 1/3 share in the new company (voting-rights-basis).
Jetstar Japan will commence domestic operations by the end of 2012 and expects to fly from Tokyo (Narita) and Osaka (Kansai International), with other destinations under consideration including Sapporo, Fukuoka, and Okinawa. Jetstar Japan also plans to ultimately offer short haul international services to key Asian cities making travel more accessible and appealing to millions more people.
The airline will launch with an initial fleet of three new Airbus A320 aircraft, configured for 180 customers in a single class, growing to 24 aircraft within its first few years. Total capitalization commitment for the new airline is up to ยฅ12 billion.
QANTAS Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: John Adlard. The Boeing 747 is gradually being phased out by QF. Read about this very special logojet by clicking on the photo.
JAL-Japan Airlines Boeing 787-846 N1003W (JA822J) (msn 34832) PAE (Nick Dean), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
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