{"id":161472,"date":"2026-10-20T09:09:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T03:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=161472"},"modified":"2026-10-20T04:33:22","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T23:03:22","slug":"qantas-to-reconfigure-airbus-a380-cabins-as-british-airways-removes-48-seats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/20\/qantas-to-reconfigure-airbus-a380-cabins-as-british-airways-removes-48-seats\/","title":{"rendered":"Qantas to Reconfigure Airbus A380 Cabins as British Airways Removes 48 Seats"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

CANBERRA-<\/strong> Qantas (QF) <\/a>is preparing to reconfigure its 485-seat Airbus A380<\/a> aircraft, shifting part of its standard economy cabin towards extra-legroom seating as the Australian airline prepares for the eventual retirement of its superjumbo fleet. The planned changes will allow Qantas to target passengers willing to pay more for additional comfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The move comes as British Airways (BA)<\/a> undertakes a more extensive Airbus A380 cabin refurbishment, cutting its total seating capacity from 469 to 421. Although both airlines are adjusting their largest aircraft to accommodate more premium passengers, their approaches differ in scale, with Qantas expected to make a more limited change while British Airways redesigns its cabins across all four classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Qantas
Photo: Qantas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Qantas A380 Seating Changes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Qantas currently operates 10 Airbus A380-800 aircraft<\/a>, each configured with 485 seats across four cabins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The layout includes 14 first-class seats, 70 business-class seats, 60 premium-economy seats and 341 standard-economy seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The proposed reconfiguration is expected to remove some standard-economy seats and replace them with economy options offering additional legroom. Qantas has not yet confirmed the final seat count, the number of seats to be removed or the precise configuration that will follow the changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The airline already offers extra-legroom economy seating on some aircraft, with a seat pitch of 34 inches (86.4 centimetres), compared with approximately 30 inches (76.2 centimetres) in standard economy on those aircraft. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Qantas’ A380 economy seats currently provide around 32 inches (81.3 centimetres) of pitch, leaving the extent of any improvement on the superjumbo unclear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"British
Photo: British Airways<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

British Airways Removes Seats<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

British Airways is planning a broader refurbishment of its 12 Airbus A380s as part of a \u00a37 billion ($9.3 billion) transformation programme. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The retrofit will reduce seating capacity by 48 seats per aircraft, from 469 to 421, while increasing the proportion of passengers<\/a> accommodated in premium cabins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the revised layout, first-class capacity will fall from 14 seats to 12, while premium economy will expand from 55 to 84 seats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Standard economy will shrink from 303 seats to 215, a reduction of 88 seats, while business class will grow from 97 seats to 110 Club Suites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The redesign will also relocate the premium-economy cabin to the lower deck and create a larger business-class cabin on the upper deck. British Airways expects the refurbishment to involve extensive interior work, including approximately 35,000 new parts and structural modifications for each aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The contrast highlights two different strategies for the same aircraft type. Qantas is expected to make a targeted adjustment to its economy cabin, whereas British Airways is investing in a comprehensive interior overhaul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Qantas'
Photo: By Vismay Bhadra – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=73465840<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A380 Retirement And Demand<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Qantas plans to begin retiring its Airbus A380 fleet in 2028, bringing forward the previously planned start date of 2032 by four years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The phase-out is expected to coincide broadly with the arrival of newer Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 aircraft, which can operate long-haul routes with greater fuel efficiency than four-engine superjumbos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The airline has indicated that its future fleet will support more efficient international operations and improved financial performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Until those aircraft take on more of the network, however, its A380s remain an important source of capacity and flexibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Demand for premium travel also helps explain the cabin changes. The International Air Transport Association reported that premium-class international passenger numbers reached 109.7 million in 2025, increasing 4.5% year over year and representing 5.5% of international passengers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Qantas has also reported stronger growth in premium-cabin revenue than in economy revenue within its international business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By adding extra-legroom options without undertaking a complete cabin redesign, the airline can seek additional revenue from its existing aircraft while preparing for a gradual fleet transition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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British Airways Unveils Largest Business Class Seats in the World on A380<\/a><\/blockquote>