First Look: Qantas New Business Class Suites Unveiled

Qantas has revealed new business class suites for upcoming Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and selected Airbus A321XLRs, bringing sliding privacy doors, lie-flat beds, direct aisle access, larger 19-inch entertainment screens, and upgraded personal space to both aircraft types. The biggest change comes to the A321XLR: for the first time, Qantas will offer fully lie-flat business class beds on a single-aisle aircraft.

Passengers will need to wait before experiencing the new products. Qantas says the first A321XLRs fitted with the new Business Suite are scheduled to arrive in 2028, while the new business class design will also appear on future Boeing 787-9 deliveries. The airlines has not announced plans to retrofit its existing Dreamliners with the newly revealed suites.

The new cabins are part of a much broader fleet-renewal strategy that is replacing older aircraft and increasing Qantas’s premium capacity. Here’s a closer look at what passengers can expect from both new business class products.

Qantas New Business Class Suites at a Glance

The A321XLR and 787 products share several important characteristics, but they are designed for very different types of flying.

Feature	Airbus A321XLR Business Suite	Boeing 787-9 Business Suite
Aircraft type	Single-aisle	Widebody
Business layout	1-1 angled herringbone	1-2-1
Direct aisle access	Yes	Yes
Fully flat bed	Yes	Yes
Privacy door	Yes	Yes
Entertainment screen	19 inches	19 inches on new suite
Business seats	20	42
Wi-Fi	Fast and free	Available on selected routes/current fleet rollout
Main role	Longer domestic and short-/medium-haul international routes	Long-haul international flying
New suite introduction	From 2028	Future new-build 787-9s

Qantas notes that product designs shown before delivery remain indicative and may change.

What’s New About Qantas Airbus A321XLR Business Class?

The new A321XLR Business Suite will give every passenger a fully flat bed, direct aisle access, and a sliding privacy door in a 1-1 configuration. That represents a substantial departure from the recliner-style business class installed on Qantas’s initial A321XLRs.

Qantas has ordered 48 Airbus A321XLR aircraft as part of its fleet-renewal program. The first aircraft entered the airline’s fleet in 2025, initially with conventional domestic-style business class seating. Qantas says 16 A321XLRs will eventually feature lie-flat business class seats, with deliveries of that configuration beginning in 2028.

That means travelers should not assume every Qantas A321XLR will feature the newly revealed suite.

1-1 Business Class Layout

The new premium cabin will have 20 Business Suites arranged 1-1.

Each suite will use an angled herringbone layout. Unlike a conventional 2-2 narrowbody business cabin, no passenger will need to step past another traveler to reach the aisle.

This is particularly important on longer flights.

A 1-1 configuration effectively gives every business class passenger:

• Direct aisle access
• A dedicated personal space
• Greater separation from neighboring travelers
• Easier movement during overnight flights
• More privacy while working, eating, or sleeping

It brings the experience closer to what passengers normally associate with premium cabins on long-haul widebody aircraft.

Qantas Is Bringing Lie-Flat Beds to a Single-Aisle Aircraft

The new A321XLR will be the first Qantas single-aisle aircraft to feature fully lie-flat business class beds.

That is arguably the most important part of the announcement.

Qantas’s current A321XLR business cabin uses 20 recliner seats in a 2-2 configuration. The current seats have a 37-inch pitch and 5 inches of recline.

The new 2028 configuration changes the experience fundamentally.

Instead of a larger reclining chair, passengers will be able to convert the suite into a flat sleeping surface.

That distinction becomes increasingly valuable as Qantas deploys the aircraft on longer transcontinental and international routes.

Each A321XLR Suite Will Have a Privacy Door

Every new A321XLR Business Suite will feature a sliding privacy door.

Combined with the 1-1 layout, the door creates a more enclosed personal area than Qantas’s existing narrowbody business class.

Passengers will therefore be able to close the door when they want additional separation from the aisle, whether they are sleeping, working, or watching entertainment.
Privacy doors have become increasingly common in newer international business class products, but seeing the feature on a Qantas narrowbody is a notable step forward.

A321XLR Business Gets a 19-Inch Entertainment Screen

Each suite will feature a 19-inch entertainment screen with Qantas’s on-demand entertainment.

That is another important difference from the airline’s initial domestic-style A321XLR cabin.

The suites will also provide:

• Wireless charging
• USB-C charging
• Fast and free Wi-Fi
• Additional personal storage
• Dedicated space for laptops and smaller belongings

Qantas says passengers will be able to use the suite as a private area for working, dining, relaxing, or sleeping.

How Does the New A321XLR Compare With Qantas’s Current Version?

The difference between the 2 configurations is substantial.

The initial A321XLR cabin remains much closer to Qantas’s traditional domestic business class experience. The 2028 version is designed for longer missions where sleeping comfort and personal space become more important.

Feature	Current A321XLR Business	New A321XLR Business Suite
Layout	2-2	1-1
Business seats	20	20
Seat type	Recliner	Lie-flat suite
Direct aisle access	Not for every passenger	Every passenger
Privacy door	No	Yes
Seat-back entertainment	Current cabin relies on personal-device entertainment	19-inch screen
Wireless charging	Yes	Yes
USB charging	Yes	USB-C
Wi-Fi	Fast and free	Fast and free

Where Will Qantas Fly the Lie-Flat A321XLR?

Qantas plans to use the lie-flat A321XLRs on longer Australian transcontinental flights and short- to medium-haul international services.

Qantas specifically points to longer domestic sectors, including flights to and from Perth, as well as international opportunities.

The aircraft’s longer range gives Qantas significantly more flexibility than the Boeing 737s it is progressively replacing.

Qantas lists the A321XLR’s range at around 8,700 kilometers, approximately 3,000 kilometers farther than the 737. That opens opportunities for direct flights between Australia and destinations in regions such as:

• Southeast Asia
• Pacific islands
• Longer Australian domestic markets

The airline has not confirmed every route that will receive the lie-flat configuration, so passengers should not assume that every A321XLR route from 2028 will have suites.

Why the A321XLR Matters to Qantas

The A321XLR is central to Qantas’s replacement of its aging Boeing 737 fleet.

Qantas has ordered 48 aircraft, and the A321XLR is approximately 5 meters longer than the 737 it replaces. It also provides larger overhead lockers, a quieter cabin, bigger windows, and greater range.

The overhead bins provide space for roughly 60% more carry-on bags than those on the Boeing 737, according to Qantas.

But the decision to fit 16 aircraft with premium long-range cabins suggests Qantas sees the A321XLR as more than a straightforward domestic 737 replacement.

It gives the airline a smaller aircraft capable of serving thinner longer-distance markets while still offering a premium cabin appropriate for extended flights.

Qantas Is Also Upgrading Boeing 787-9 Business Class

Qantas’s future Boeing 787-9s will receive an updated business class suite featuring a sliding privacy door, 19-inch entertainment screen, redesigned storage, and improved sleeping space.

Unlike the A321XLR, this is more of an evolution of the airline’s existing Dreamliner business class than an entirely different seating concept.

Qantas already operates a 1-2-1 business class layout on its 787-9s. Its current seat converts into a fully flat bed measuring about 2 meters, or 80 inches, and every passenger already receives direct aisle access.

The upcoming version builds on that foundation.

What Will the New Qantas 787 Business Suite Include?

The updated Dreamliner cabin will have 42 business class suites.

Major features include:

• 1-2-1 seating
• Direct aisle access
• Sliding privacy doors
• Fully flat beds
• Approximately 80-inch sleeping length
• Wider footwell
• Redesigned personal storage
• 19-inch entertainment screens
• Updated cabin finishes

The privacy door is particularly noteworthy because Qantas says it will be a first for the airline’s Dreamliner business class.

How Does the New 787 Suite Compare With Qantas’s Current Business Class?

The current Qantas 787-9 business class is already a competitive long-haul product.

It offers:

• 42 business class seats
• 1-2-1 configuration
• Direct aisle access
• Fully flat 80-inch bed
• 23- to 24-inch seat width
• Personal storage
• 16-inch entertainment screen
• USB and AC power

The future version retains the basic 42-seat arrangement while improving several aspects of the passenger experience.

Feature	Current Qantas 787 Business	New Qantas 787 Business
Layout	1-2-1	1-2-1
Business seats	42	42
Lie-flat bed	Yes	Yes
Bed length	Approx. 80 inches	Approx. 80 inches
Direct aisle access	Yes	Yes
Privacy door	No	Yes
Entertainment screen	16 inches	19 inches
Storage	Existing storage	Redesigned storage
Footwell	Existing design	Wider footwell

So, the headline change is not that Qantas is suddenly introducing flat beds or aisle access to its Dreamliners—it already offers both.

The meaningful improvements are greater privacy, a larger entertainment screen, better storage, and refinements to sleeping comfort.

New 787 Cabin Takes Inspiration From Australia

Qantas has also refreshed the visual design of the new Dreamliner suites.
The airline says the interior takes inspiration from the Australian landscape, including a rich tone influenced by the red earth of Western Australia’s Pilbara region.

That approach gives the cabin a distinctly Australian visual identity rather than using a generic premium-airline aesthetic.
Combined with redesigned storage and the suite doors, the changes should make the new cabin feel noticeably different even though its fundamental 1-2-1 layout remains familiar.

Will Existing Qantas 787s Get the New Business Class?

Qantas has not confirmed that its existing Boeing 787-9 fleet will be retrofitted with the newly revealed business class suite.

The airline currently operates 14 Dreamliners, while the newly revealed product is associated with future aircraft deliveries. That means travelers should not assume today’s Qantas 787-9s will automatically receive privacy doors and 19-inch screens.

Unless Qantas announces a retrofit program, there could eventually be multiple Dreamliner cabin versions in operation.
That distinction will matter when passengers choose flights specifically to experience the new suite.

When Will the New Qantas Business Class Suites Enter Service?

The first A321XLRs fitted with the lie-flat Business Suite are scheduled to arrive in 2028. Qantas has also tied the new Dreamliner business class product to future 787-9 deliveries rather than its existing fleet.

The rollout should therefore be viewed as a future product rather than something passengers can book today.

Aircraft delivery schedules and product designs can also change before entry into service.

Qantas itself notes that the A321XLR designs shown are indicative and subject to change.

Qantas Is Making Its Fleet More Premium

The new suites fit into a wider strategy of increasing premium capacity across Qantas’s future fleet.

Qantas’s FY2026 investor materials describe its international strategy as targeting high-demand business and premium-leisure travelers while investing in premium-heavy cabin configurations across aircraft such as the Boeing 787 family and Airbus A350-1000.

The broader fleet plan includes:

• Airbus A321XLRs replacing Boeing 737s
• Airbus A220s replacing older regional aircraft
• Additional Boeing 787-family aircraft
• Airbus A350-1000s
• Project Sunrise ultra-long-haul aircraft
• Cabin upgrades across parts of the existing fleet

Qantas has more than 100 new aircraft included across its broader fleet investment program, with cabin upgrades also extending to existing aircraft types.

What Does This Mean for Business Class Passengers?

The A321XLR announcement could make the biggest practical difference.

A traveler flying a long transcontinental Australian route on today’s narrowbody aircraft generally receives a recliner-style premium seat. On the new long-range A321XLR configuration, that same type of journey could eventually offer a private suite and flat bed.

For 787 passengers, the improvement is more incremental.

The existing Dreamliner already offers the fundamentals expected from modern long-haul business class: a fully flat bed, 1-2-1 configuration, and direct aisle access. The new suite adds privacy and refinement rather than completely changing the experience.

A321XLR vs. 787: Which New Qantas Suite Changes More?

The A321XLR represents the more dramatic transformation because it takes Qantas narrowbody business class from a 2-2 recliner product to a private 1-1 lie-flat suite.

The 787 update improves an already established lie-flat product.

Area	A321XLR Change	787-9 Change
Seat layout	Major change to 1-1	Remains 1-2-1
Lie-flat bed	New for Qantas narrowbody	Already available
Direct aisle access	New for every passenger	Already available
Privacy door	New	New
IFE	Adds 19-inch screen	Grows from 16 to 19 inches
Main impact	Transforms narrowbody premium travel	Refines long-haul premium travel

Both are meaningful upgrades, but they solve different problems.

Can You Book the New Qantas Business Class Suites Yet?

No. The newly announced lie-flat A321XLR configuration is not yet in passenger service.
The first aircraft with the suite are scheduled to arrive in 2028.

Passengers can already fly Qantas A321XLRs, but the aircraft currently in service use the recliner-style business cabin rather than the 1-1 lie-flat product.

Similarly, current Qantas 787 flights should not be confused with the newly revealed privacy-door Dreamliner suite.

When the new aircraft get closer to service, travelers should check:

• Aircraft type
• Seat map
• Business class configuration
• Operating aircraft
• Route
• Flight date

Qantas notes that aircraft assignments can change, so even published equipment should not be treated as an absolute guarantee.

Final Thoughts

Qantas’s latest cabin reveal represents 2 different kinds of business class upgrade.

On the Boeing 787-9, the airline is refining an already capable long-haul product with sliding doors, a 19-inch entertainment screen, redesigned storage, and improved personal space. On the Airbus A321XLR, the change is much more dramatic: Qantas is moving from narrowbody recliners to 20 private 1-1 lie-flat suites, giving every business class passenger direct aisle access.

The main limitation is timing. The new A321XLR suites are scheduled from 2028, and the 787 product is tied to future aircraft rather than a confirmed retrofit of today’s Dreamliners.

For passengers, the aircraft configuration will therefore matter just as much as the words “Business Class.” Once the new cabins enter service, checking the seat map and scheduled aircraft will be the clearest way to determine which Qantas premium experience a flight is expected to offer.

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