Virgin Australia unveils multimillion dollar cabin fleet-wide aircraft upgrade
Virgin Australia has unveiled wider Business Class seats as part of a new cabin design for its 737-8 fleet
Virgin Australia has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737-8 aircraft, as it continues its transformation and works towards its net zero emissions target by 2050.
The aircraft is one of 33 fuel-efficient Boeing 737-8 and 737-10 aircraft set to be delivered in the coming months the airline has on order. Virgin Australia relaunched in November 2020 with 58 aircraft. With the addition of the latest Boeing 737-8, there are now 85 aircraft in the airline’s fleet.
Following research from a two-year prototype study, the airline has unveiled a new cabin interior for its Boeing 737-8 aircraft, featuring in-seat power for all Business Class and Economy seats and larger overhead lockers, with capacity to stow up to 50% more carry-on baggage when compared to the airline’s existing Boeing 737 aircraft. The seats in Business Class have been widened, and include leg rests with extendable footrests, storage compartments, tablet/device holders and water bottle holders. Economy seats have been redesigned, featuring a ribbed backing to elevate comfort and ergonomics, and a personal tablet/device holder.
“In 2021 we introduced a prototype cabin interior on two Boeing 737-800 aircraft, and over the last couple of years we’ve been able to obtain feedback from our guests, which enables us to enhance our entire Boeing fleet with the features that are most important to them. We’ve always said that we are a business that listens to its customers, and this is a testament to that,” said Virgin Australia Group Chief Customer and Digital Officer, Paul Jones, in a recent press release.
Virgin Australia has also confirmed plans to refresh the interior cabins on the airline’s remaining Boeing fleet. The interior refresh and product upgrade across Virgin Australia’s remaining Boeing fleet will commence later this year, with the work set to be complete in the next two years, subject to operational requirements.
The upgrade includes the installation of in-seat power for all Business Class and Economy seats, installation of new Business Class seats, consistent with the new Boeing 737-8 aircraft and installation of new or refreshed Economy seats, with seat design to be consistent with the new Boeing 737-8 aircraft.
A new designed Economy Class seat will be introduced. Rather than seatback screens, the seats offer space for personal electronic devices
In-flight Wi-Fi and complimentary in-flight entertainment (via a guest’s own personal device) will be introduced to the majority of the remaining fleet.
Jones added, “If you look at the business community, what matters most to them outside of network schedule is in-seat power and in-flight Wi-Fi, so I’m really excited that will feature on the majority of our fleet. There’s also a huge number of customers who fly with us for leisure who value in-seat power for a different reason – powering devices to keep their kids entertained, or streaming and bingeing on the latest must-see shows.
An entirely new seat configuration will also be rolled out through the introduction of a new design cabin divider between Business Class and Economy. The new divider will allow for greater floor space in the Economy cabin and the subsequent installation of between six and 12 additional Economy seats. The refurbishment will also include the replacement of one Economy X row with Economy seating on all Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Once the cabin refresh program is complete, the unified in-flight offering will deliver more seats for travellers and a consistent guest experience across all flights operated by Virgin Australia Boeing 737 aircraft.
“With the reconfiguration of our cabin interior, we are also able to add more seats to the market without changing the legroom experience, providing Australian travellers with even more choice and great value airfares as well as a consistent in-flight experience,” Jones concluded.
