Domestic Dreamliners? The Qantas Boeing 787-10
These modern 787-10s should replace the aging Airbus A330 on Australia’s east-west routes.
By David Flynn, July 11 2024
Qantas’ workhorse Airbus A330s are finally being put out to pasture. In their place will be a trio of factory-fresh jets – the Airbus A350-1000, Boeing 787-9 and Boeing 787-10.
Most Qantas travellers are already familiar with the Boeing 787-9, which tackles ultra-long flights to London, Paris and Rome along with the North American routes of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas Forth Worth, Vancouver and of course New York.
And the Airbus A350 is of course the plane selected for those non-stop marathons from Sydney and Melbourne to London and New York – although those ‘Project Sunrise’ jets will be fitted with an extra fuel tank, compared to the more conventional A350s with will replace the A330.
But the Boeing 787-10 is new to the red-tailed fleet, so let Executive Traveller bring you up to speed.
In this article:
Qantas’ Boeing 787-10 order
All of the Qantas A330s will make way for the following mix of jets:
- twelve Airbus A350-1000s
- four Boeing 787-9s
- eight Boeing 787-10s
Qantas has also lined up “additional purchase right options” split evenly between Airbus and Boeing “to give flexibility for future growth.
This includes phasing out the A380 superjumbos and replacing them with A350s from around 2032-2033.
The Qantas 787-10s are expected to have the same business class as their current 787-9 siblings.
Qantas’ Boeing 787-10 delivery
When the A330 retirement was announced, Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson told Executive Traveller the program “will start with replacing the (first) A330 in (FY) 2027” on a Boeing 787, although it’s not known if this will be the 787-10 or the more in-demand 787-9. (The A350s will follow from FY28).
Qantas also says there’s significant “flexibility” in the order, so the delivery of the jets can be slowed or even brought slightly forward to suit the market (which for now continues to go from strength to strength as travellers ride that post-pandemic boom).
As the 787s and then A350s arrive, the A330s will be gradually phased out starting in 2027-2028.
The oldest A330s are first for the knackery while younger jets scheduled to leave the fleet towards the end of the replacement program will “undergo a cabin refurbishment” beginning in 2025-2026, with new economy seats and a modernisation of the interiors, although the same original-gen business class seats will remain in place.
Introducing the Qantas’ Boeing 787-10
The Boeing 787-10 is the the largest member of the Dreamliner family, with Qantas already flying the mid-sized 787-9 and Jetstar the debutante 787-8.
A ‘stretch’ of the core Dreamliner design which is 5.5 metres longer than the 787-9, the 787-10 was created to carry more passengers and cargo but over a slightly reduced range.
The Boeing 787-10 is just like a 787-9, only with added seats and a more modest range.
Boeing and Qantas rate the 787-9’s range at around 14,000km, while the 787-10 is capped at just under 12,000km (by way of example, Sydney-Los Angeles route is 12,050km).
It’s expected the Qantas 787-10s will be seen on domestic east-west flights such as Sydney-Perth, Melbourne-Perth and (fingers crossed) Brisbane-Perth and also pick up some popular short-range international routes across to New Zealand and into Asia.
The Qantas 787-10s will bring premium economy onto Australia's east-west routes.
The four extra Boeing 787-9s (and those dozen Airbus A350-1000s) are more likely to spread their wings onto longer-ranger routes such as Europe via Perth, North America and Johannesburg.
“They have a range and capability that can be deployed across different routes and route networks, and we can move those aircraft around across both domestic and also international,” Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson told Executive Traveller when the A330 replacement program was first announced.
“We’ll actually get growth from these aircraft as well, because they have a fantastic range, they have better fuel efficiency and they are also going to enable us to open more routes across the Pacific, but also into Europe and also Asia.”
As you’d expect, all of these new Airbus and Boeing jets will arrive with high-speed satellite WiFi already fitted.
The Qantas’ Boeing 787-10 seatmap
Executive Traveller understands the Qantas 787-10 will share the same configuration as the current 787-9.
This will include a three-cabin split of business class, premium economy and economy, so the new jets can be easily moved between domestic and international 787 routes – including, range permitting, being swapped in for a 787-9.
Qantas may also decide to stick with the same seats as today’s 787-9, as these have already been certified by the aviation safety regulators.
The Qantas 787-10 seatmap will follow the same layout as the 787-9 shown above, but with several extra rows of seating.
AeroLOPA.com
AeroLOPA.com
That said, it’d still be nice to see some features of those seats upgraded – such as wireless charging in business class, sharper HD video screens with Bluetooth audio streaming, and USB-C power sockets from tip to tail.
(Likewise, Executive Traveller has been told the twelve Airbus A350-1000s which come as part of the A330 replacement plan will get the Project Sunrise business class suites plus spacious premium economy and comfortable extra-legroom economy recliners, but unlike their ultra-long range siblings these A350s won’t have first class suites or the ‘wellbeing zone’.)
The A350-1000s which will replace today's A330s will have an identical business class to the ultra-long range Project Sunrise A350 fleet.
There will of course be room for more seats on the 787-10, as its extra 5.5m length translates into a few extra rows.
But where those seats go – in business class, premium economy or economy, or having those extra rows spread across these cabins – will largely depend on the final configuration chosen by Qantas (while also allowing for immovable factors such as where the 787-10’s doors are).
04 Oct 2017
Total posts 6
This would be great if they actually used 330's on the East-West route! As of today, of the 8 x SYD-PER flights a day only 2 x of them are 330's - the rest are 737's. It's an absolute joke!
24 Nov 2020
Total posts 13
What do you mean “it’s a joke”? SYD/PER is a domestic flight around 4 hours. “ Do you seriously think it warrants a business class suite with a lay flat bed?
04 Oct 2017
Total posts 6
And STD-MEL or MEL-BRI do? Which is where the bulk of the 330's are being used.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Nov 2014
Total posts 358
We can keep crossing our fingers, but my bet is, BNE will never see the 787-10 except for maintenance and unplanned diverted landing. We would be lucky at the mercy of Qantas to even give us the decommissioned A330.
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1225
You would expect that the 787-10s will initially replace A333s on international services principally into Asia. This will enable the lower cycle A333s to replace the oldest A332s. Currently, due to the fleet situation, the original "Cityflyer" A332s are spending a lot of time operating to places like SIN,DPS, CGK and MNL. They are pretty tired with an inferior fitout.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 467
And it may well make sense for the B787-10 to replace the 787-9 aircraft on routes to HNL, HKG, NRT/HND, freeing up those aircraft to do Europe and America.
15 Dec 2021
Total posts 6
David, what about those four 787-9s on order? They will have the Project Sunrise suites, right?
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2563
Qantas hasn’t detailed the configuration of those particular jets but I would expect they will have the same seats as the other 787s, as this is far better for fleet flexibility alone - The ability to swap aircraft around on different routes.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Jun 2017
Total posts 77
Mighty just be me but I don’t see the sense in the 787-10.
Do Qantas really need the extra capacity on the east west routes? And the significant number of business class seats as well as PE?
Range being limited to 12,000km means they can’t be switched into Sydney LA and Melbourne LA. Brisbane LA is awfully close also.
Yes will give plenty of capacity into Asia but there is a heck of a lot of competition at a lower ticket price and those travelling to Australia will generally favour airlines from their own country so I don’t see this as a region for massive growth.
26 Sep 2023
Total posts 32
It seems like a lot of aircraft for Australian transcon. Fewer and fewer corporate now do J for any domestic, so why put a premium heavy configuration on the route? Asia has to be the more likely option, with transcon on the new 321s.
22 Sep 2017
Total posts 96
True, and in Y the 787 basically means a narrower seat compared to an A330 or A321, with not much to compensate except maybe lower cabin altitude.
Etihad - Etihad Guest
10 Apr 2019
Total posts 18
I’m willing to bet the vast majority of the 787-10 flights will be to Asia replacing the A330-200/300. Which will be kept on shorter routes til fully phased out.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 483
I think everyone agrees the first 787-10s will be on those Asian routes while the refurbished A330s will be east-west, but as all the 787-10s arrive they will take on east-west flying along with A321s.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
24 Aug 2023
Total posts 5
I think you are being exceptionally optimistic we will see dedicated 787-9s or -10s on the east-west routes outside of tag services beyond Perth to Europe. Qantas only upped their wide body frequencies years ago in response to the virgin Australia A330s, so with no wide body competition they are better off flying them up to Asia and back from a utilisation standpoint.
The A321 will be a far more suitable east-west option for qantas with a low seat cost.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Sep 2012
Total posts 21
Possibly wishful thinking that QANTAS will prioritise the 787 for east-west routes; gone are the days when securing a wide-body across the continent was almost a sure bet!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Sep 2012
Total posts 382
Asia urgently needs PY to compete against the likes of SQ, CX so the 787s will go there for sure. East-West Oz routes don’t urgently need PY.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 483
Yes, the first 787-10s will almost certainly move onto Asian routes and premium economy will be very welcome there!
Jetstar Airways - Qantas Frequent Flyer
24 Aug 2018
Total posts 112
My personal preference is to see the departure of all B 737 from all routes longer than 2 hours. It is patently insulting to continue to sell Y seats on flights from Melbourne to Perth, Cairns and Darwin: these seats are the 'Euro Con' seats. Worse still, I am about to fly back to Melbourne from Auckland and guess what awaits me on this Qantas flight? Rubbish!
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 483
May be your preference but it's also an absolute delusion. Where is the world do airlines refuse to fly these sorts of single-aisle jets on "all routes longer than 2 hours"? That's a sad avgeek fantasy which has no basis in the reality of running an airline. And you're obviously confused about those European flights which have economy seats up the front as 'Euro-business' class, how on earth is Qantas B737 business class seat a 'Euro Con' or whatever that means? They are proper business class unlike anything you'd get on comparable very short-haul flights within the UK or Europe by BA, Lufthansa, Air France and most other airlines for that matter. Sorry Otto but your comment comes across as yet another baseless fact-free 'whinge'.
24 Nov 2020
Total posts 13
Auckland to Melbourne is only 3 1/2 hours! A 737 is perfectly acceptable for a flight of that duration.
15 May 2016
Total posts 9
Absolute horse hockey. Qantas are not buying expensive long range international jets with a premium heavy configuration to put on cross country routes. They will be flying to Asia and North America. The 321s will be flying to Perth.
30 May 2014
Total posts 18
These will rarely appear on regular transcons in this decade.
The 787-10's will initially replace the older A330-300's and 200's (EBA-D and QPA-QPJ) which are the oldest in the fleet.
The newer A330-200's from EBM onwards that are getting the refresh will still be around for some time and its likely these are what will end up on the transcons in their later life.
The 787-10's are perfect for Asia and QF could certainly use the additional capacity. over the A330-200.
That seat map is also far from accurate. The 787-10 will easily accomodate more Business class between doors 1 and 2 than the 787-9. Depending on the final configuration 36-40 Business class seats are easily accommodated (based on QF's current product).
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 483
The seat map is for a Qantas 787-9, didn't you read the caption? The seat map for the 787-10 is not out yet.
As to 787-10 vs A330 deployment it seems clear to me from what Qantas has said and is going that the newest or rather 'the least oldest' A330s will be flying for longest so I would thing they'd be remaining east-west as the 787-10s come in and take over key Asian routes, which is also good news for premium economy on those Asian routes.
But then as the last A330s are retired there will be more 787-10s and those will take on domestic A330 routes, mainly east-west. I think east-west will in the end be a combination of 787s and A321s.
14 Jan 2019
Total posts 24
So is Qantas is ditching first class, cause they could not compete with Emirates and Eithad and Singapore?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 14
No. The “Sunrise” A350s will have First and eventually replace the A380s.
24 Nov 2020
Total posts 13
What a ridiculous comment. Qantas don’t fly to Dubai or Abu Dhabi and the flight to LHR via SIN does have First Class. Nice try Suzanne.
09 Dec 2023
Total posts 6
Qantas has previously indicated that it is too hard to turn wide bodied aircraft around on domestic's flights. B787-10s will replace the A330-300 on International flights to Asia.
The A321 neo XLR have only 200 seats because the twenty business seats will convert to short lie flat beds leaving room only for 180 economy seats. The A321 neo XLR will be the aircraft for east west flights
24 Nov 2020
Total posts 13
I don’t think that’s correct. No mention of lie flat seats on the A321.
09 Dec 2023
Total posts 6
The front cabin of a B787-10 is 120 inches longer than the B787-9 cabin. Qantas would want all the business seats in the front cabin. However, the existing B787 business seats are at a pitch of 46 inches, requiring 138 inches.
A problem with the B787s is while there is a toilet at the very front of the cabin, the next two are behind doors 2L/2R and service all the business passengers plus premium economy passengers in the middle cabin. A toilet each side in immediately front of doors 2, will solve this and indirectly address the increased seating on the aircraft. This will reduce business seating to 40 seats with a bed length of 77 or 76 inches, still longer than the industry average of 75 inches
The extra 96 inches at the rear will allow another 3 rows of economy. QANTAS will have to decide how many rows of premium economy they want in the middle cabin and if they are going to increase the seat pitch 40 inches like on the A350-1000s. The remainder will be economy seats with total seating around 305 passengers.
13 Jul 2024
Total posts 1
There should be a law against using 737s on Perth flights. It's beyond a joke sitting on such a squashed little toy on such a long flight. This order is well overdue and they should be flying 787s east west already. Qantas service, I did a 6.25hr flight on 737 last week Syd to PER, unbelievable 👎
30 Mar 2016
Total posts 8
US Transcon is a similar sector length to Aus Transcon and it's done all day, every day with narrowbodies (B737, B757, A320 family, A220). There are many, many other 5-6 hour narrowbody sectors around the world. 31" pitch / 17.5" width hurts just as much on a B787 as it does on a B737.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 May 2013
Total posts 383
This can't come soon enough. Coming off a Finnair A350 and onto a Qantas A330 in Singapore last weekend, the difference in product was embarrassing. Qantas is far behind where it needs to be.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
31 Aug 2012
Total posts 212
No word on new a/c for ADL-PER route to replace the 737 workhorse.
For the geographically challenged, this route is a substantial 'east-west' Qantas route.
09 Dec 2023
Total posts 6
SandraDee
The past and present CEOs of QANTAS when referring to the A321 neo XLRs have commented “no reduction in space between the seats”. This has to mean the economy seats will be at a pitch of 29 inches, the same as Jetstar. However, QANTAS’s seats would have more features than Jetstar’s seats.
Jetstar has 39 rows of seats in their A321 neo LRs. Plugging doors 3 gives one more row. 180 economy seats equals thirty rows. So QANTAS has equivalent of ten rows of economy, 290 inches, for their business class seats. If twin business class seat like on the B737s were installed, they would be at seat pitch of 58 inches. There are various business class seats available for A320/B737 jets that allow a passenger’s legs to be within the area of the row of seats in front so that the business seat becomes a lie flat bed. QANTAS would be reducing the economy pitch for a purpose, lie flat b eds in business.
30 Mar 2016
Total posts 8
If UA can operate B787-10s daily Transpac, why wouldn't Qantas also be able to? Of course they will.
50km is a rounding error. The -10s will go to LAX, possibly SFO thus freeing up some -9s for other destinations.
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