Jetstar Airways commenced operations with its newly configured Boeing 787-8 aircraft on April 7.
The refurbishment was carried out in Hong Kong by Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering (HAECO), and the aircraft was ferried to Melbourne on April 2. The first flight was JQ17 from Melbourne to Phuket.
Business class has been doubled from 21 to 44 seats. The seat pitch is 38 inches, recline is 7 inches, and width is 21 inches. The seats are equipped with six-way adjustable headrests, footrests, tray tables with a folding arm, and dual USB-C power outlets.
Economy class capacity has been reduced from 314 to 281 seats, and new seats manufactured by Recaro Aircraft Seating have been introduced. The seat pitch is 30 inches and recline is 5 inches. The seats feature six-way adjustable headrests, mobile device holders, and dual USB-C power outlets.
Jetstar has introduced in-flight Wi-Fi service provided by Viasat, which is available free of charge with no data limits in business class. Seatback monitors have been removed. The number of crew rest facilities has been increased to six, enabling operations on longer-haul routes.
The airline has also revamped its bid-for-upgrade service to business class. Through BidCash, passengers can specify a bid amount within a set minimum and maximum range. Going forward, a bidding system using Qantas Points will be introduced for Qantas Frequent Flyer members.
Jetstar operates 11 Boeing 787-8 aircraft, and the refurbishment program will continue through the second half of 2027.
