Qantas Unveils Economy-Plus Product, Updates A350-1000ULR

Qantas has announced a new cabin product that will be installed in its mainline narrowbody fleet and reports that production of its first Airbus A350-1000ULR is proceeding on schedule.

The new product is labeled Economy Plus and will feature 40% more legroom, priority access to overhead bin space and priority boarding. It will be complimentary for high-tiered frequent flyers, Qantas said.

Economy Plus will be available from February. The product will be installed on all new-delivery A321XLRs and A220s and will be retrofitted on Boeing 737s from December. These aircraft are used on the Qantas domestic network and on international short-haul routes to New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

Qantas has taken delivery of two A321XLRs so far and is due to receive another by the end of this year. It has also taken delivery of eight A220s, according to the Aviation Week Network Fleet Discovery fleet database. The carrier operates 77 737s, which will eventually be replaced by A321XLRs.

Separately, Qantas reports that its first A350-1000ULR is now on the Airbus final assembly line in Toulouse. The aircraft is one of 12 the carrier has on order for its planned Project Sunrise ultra-long-range flights.

All major airframe components, including the forward, center and rear fuselage sections, have been joined, and the wings, tail section and landing gear have been attached.

The aircraft will now be transferred to a new hangar to have engines and flight-test instruments installed before the flight-test program begins in 2026, Qantas said.

The airline has previously estimated that deliveries of the -1000ULRs are due to begin around October next year. Qantas intends to launch the Project Sunrise routes in early 2027, after it has received three -1000ULRs.

Qantas also reported that it received 17 aircraft in fiscal 2025, which ended June 30, including some for group carriers Jetstar and QantasLink. The group expects to take delivery of 20 new aircraft in the current fiscal year, including another five A321XLRs.

Group domestic capacity is projected to be up 5% year on year for fiscal 2026, with international up 4%.