Jetstar will take delivery of its first Boeing 787 towards the end of September, marking the start of an extensive fleet renewal for both the low-cost carrier and its parent Qantas.
However, a date for the beginning of commercial flights remains to be set, due to the various tasks to be carried out between the plane’s handover to Jetstar and its entry into service.
Jetstar will pick up a further two 787s by year's end, and while the airline has yet to reveal its 787 launch routes, Jetstar Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka says the Dreamliners "will operate to destinations like Honolulu, Phuket and Tokyo which are currently serviced by our A330 aircraft."
The Dreamliner’s Australian debut comes five years after Qantas originally expected to begin flying the next-gen jet.
A series of delays assigned to the aircraft’s revolutionary design, including extensive use of carbon-fibre composites instead of metal, resulted in Boeing paying Qantas $150 million in ‘opportunity cost’ compensation due to Qantas being unable to fly the fuel-efficient 787 and put its older aircraft out to pasture.
Qantas also cancelled its order for 35 Dreamliners, although the airline has options on as many as 50 Dreamliners from 2016.
While those 787s will be shared between Qantas and Jetstar, the first 14 Dreamliners winging their way into the Qantas Group are all earmarked for Jetstar, which intends to make the most of the aircraft’s improved fuel efficiencies, reduced maintenance and increased passenger comfort.
Read: Why business travellers will love the Boeing 787
Virgin Australia also has the 787 on its shopping list, alongside the Airbus A350, to replace the airline’s Airbus A330 and Boeing 777s for transcontinental and international flights from 2017.
Earlier this year Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti told Australian Business Traveller that the choice of which of the big birds to buy will be “an end-of-year decision”.
“We’re taking our time, there’s no need to rush into this” he said, adding that the Dreamliner’s well-documented woes “haven’t dented my views on how good I think the 787 is. I think the 787 is a wonderful airplane, just as much as I believe the A350 will be.”
Australian Business Traveller will be visiting Boeing’s 787 factory at Everett, Washington in early June to see Jetstar’s first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on the final assembly line.
For the latest information for business travellers and frequent flyers, follow @AusBT on Twitter
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - QFF Platinum
20 Mar 2012
Total posts 211
Any idea if there'll be a new 'biz' class or will it be the same old recliners?
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2563
Josh: we don't yet know the exact details of Jetstar's 787 seats, but it's highly likely JQ will choose the seats from the catalogue offered by Boeing - in which several seats manufacturers have supplied a variety of seats for economy, premium economy and business which have all been approved by Boeing and can be installed while the aircraft is being assembled (a 'line fit') rather than fitted after the aircraft is done. The former process is faster and, more significant for a low-cost carrier like Jetstar, cheaper.
That said, the catalogue boasts perhaps a dozen business class seats to choose from, and JQ could even settle for a premium economy model - so exactly what they've decided to go with remains to be seen. It could be a recliner, but it could also be an angled lie-flat like Air Asia X's premium class.
All I can say for sure is that as soon as Jetstar's 787 seats are revealed, you'll read about them here on AusBT! :)
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
15 Aug 2012
Total posts 171
I would be very surprised if they went with a flat bed product as they wouldn't want to bleed off passengers from Qantas.
Could be wrong, but if I was a betting man my money would be on enhanced recliner product of the like they have now.
Qantas - QFF Platinum
20 Mar 2012
Total posts 211
My thoughts exactly, Qantas has an oppurtunity to make a great low cost biz class but I reckon they'll hold back to protect their Skybed II/whatever's coming for end 2014. Something along the lines of a stripped back Virgin A330 biz is what I would expect.
PS thanks David re reply to my initial comment
Qantas
13 Dec 2012
Total posts 21
I toured Everett in Feb this year and got to see the 787s coming through the line. There's a few cross sections on display there that you can get up to touch and feel. The composite contruction makes a lot of sense to me and seeing it in the factory made me a lot more comfortable about flying on it. It's very impressive (as it Everett in general)!
In fact I might even think about breaking my long held "no jetstar" rule just to take a flight on one...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Aug 2012
Total posts 130
Hopefully, JQ installs a decent seat in business class. Not expecting them to put in flat bed or anything- something similar to the PE quality seats on QF will be pretty good for day flights.
19 Mar 2013
Total posts 38
I can appreciate that David doesn't want to stoke the fires of speculation by making a guess as to what business class seat the Jetstar 787 will have, but I will make a prediction that they will be 'angled lie flat'. The reasons?
So I think we'll see an 'angled flatbed' at the 'pointy end ' of the Jetstar 787s.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
15 Aug 2012
Total posts 171
The point about about the 787's being handed down to Qantas is not quite right. If that happens they will get all new seats and paintjob to be in line with the Qantas fleet. They will not keep the Jetstar interior at all.
The 787's will replace the A330 fleet for Jetstar, those aircraft will be refitted and given to Qantas.
19 Mar 2013
Total posts 38
SCF: it's been reported many times before that the first 787s, the -8s, go to JQ, and this means their A330s get handed down to QF, but then the second batch from 2016 will be 787-9s which will be split between JQ and QF, but that QF will then get JQ's 787-8s, these will mainly be for domestic use and JQ's two-class config will let these planes enter into service with QF with a quick paintjob and a cabin refresh but I don't expect the seats to change.
07 Aug 2012
Total posts 192
As far as I have read, the 789s will go directly to QF not JQ. So a common interior is not required.
Also, I don't believe that seat expectation for JQ have increased that much. Sure D7 has angled-flat business class, but TZ has a recliner similar to JQ.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
15 Aug 2012
Total posts 171
Yeah I agree about the JQ expectation not being high.
Thinking about it more I think Qantas would be crazy to let Jetstar get a lay flat seat.
The number one thing business travelers want on a long distance flight is sleep according to a recent survey. Give a product that ticks that box to Jetstar and you'll see Qantas group lose revenue towards a cheaper Jetstar product. That would be a silly move.
Be intersting to see what they come up with.
19 Mar 2013
Total posts 38
Madge, no the 787-9s will be for "the Qantas Group" and be shared between QF and JQ, that's been reported many many times. Those will have different seating and configs, JQ will be two class and QF will probably be three-class with a Premium Economy, but QF will get the original JQ 787-8s down the track.
20 May 2013
Total posts 14
Jetstar announced that they're going to fly Perth to Lombok 4x weekly would they use the b787 or the a320
19 Mar 2013
Total posts 38
I don't see that Lombok would be a very popular route, I think this will be A320 for some time. Surprised to hear Jetstar CEO say Honolulu, Phuket and Tokyo would be among first routes, surely Melbourne-Singapore would be a big drawcard for them!
20 May 2013
Total posts 14
Your right and Lombok is right next to Bali. If you want to go to Lombok you could take a boat from Bali
20 May 2013
Total posts 14
Hopefully jetstar 787 economy seats will have IFE for every seat
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 780
I wouldn't be getting too excited about it having IFE or flat seats in Starclass - remember folks, it's Jetstar. They want the 787s for increased fuel efficiency to help maintain their low cost base and get the A330s back to QF mainline.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on September debut for Jetstar