Qantas has revealed the premium interior planned for 16 Airbus A321XLRs due to join its fleet from 2028, including fully lie-flat Business Class suites that will give the airline a long-range narrowbody product for the first time.
The aircraft are part of an additional order for 20 A321XLRs announced by Qantas in August 2025. Sixteen were designated for longer domestic and international services and will receive a different cabin from the XLRs already entering the airline's fleet.
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Business Class will use a 1-1 angled herringbone configuration, giving every passenger direct aisle access. The suites will feature sliding privacy doors, fully flat beds, 19-inch entertainment screens, wireless charging, USB-C ports and additional storage.
Qantas has not yet disclosed the complete seating capacity of these aircraft or identified the routes on which they will initially operate.
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Qantas A321XLR Business class | Qantas 
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The configuration differs substantially from the A321XLRs Qantas began receiving in 2025 to replace its Boeing 737-800s. Those aircraft are primarily intended for domestic operations and use conventional recliner seats in Business Class rather than lie-flat suites.
Longer missions for XLR
The 16 premium-configured aircraft will allow Qantas to use the A321XLR on longer transcontinental services within Australia and selected international routes.
Qantas has previously identified the additional range of the XLR as an opportunity to serve destinations that are difficult to operate economically with larger widebody aircraft. The airline has not yet confirmed specific international destinations for the new configuration.
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The A321XLR has a maximum advertised range of up to 4,700 nautical miles (8,700 km), although the distance available in airline service depends on cabin configuration, payload, weather and operational requirements.
Qantas is one of several airlines developing premium-heavy cabins for the type. United Airlines, for example, is preparing a 150-seat configuration with 20 Polaris lie-flat suites and 12 Premium Plus seats for transatlantic operations.
New Business product for 787-9
Qantas also unveiled an updated Business Class seat for four additional Boeing 787-9s scheduled to arrive from the 2028 financial year.
The new Dreamliners will retain 42 Business Class seats but introduce suites with sliding privacy doors. The seats will convert into 80-inch beds and feature larger footwells, redesigned personal storage and 19-inch entertainment screens.
Qantas currently operates 14 787-9s. The airline has not announced plans to retrofit those aircraft with the new Business Class product.
The four additional 787-9s form part of Qantas' wider long-haul fleet renewal program, which also includes eight 787-10s and Airbus A350-1000s.
