Qantas Reveals New A350 Cabin Design Including ‘Wellbeing Zone’

Photo showing the Cabin of a Qantas QFA350 plane. (Courtesy of Qantas)

On June 16, Qantas unveiled the new cabin design of its Airbus A350, which will fly direct from Sydney to New York or London.

The airline showcased its luxury First and Business cabins in February. It has unveiled the entire aircraft interior, including a unique dedicated well-being zone, as well as Premium Economy and Economy cabins.

The new Qantas A350 will only take 238 passengers compared to the usual 300 or more passengers on its other Qantas aircraft.

“Reducing the number of seats onboard our A350 to 238 compared to the 300-plus seat layout of other carriers means we maximise aircraft performance across long distances and give our passengers more space and comfort,” said Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce.

“Fewer seats translate to more space for each customer and a dedicated wellbeing zone for travellers to stretch, help themselves to a snack and spend time out of their seats. We are the only airline in the world that will have a bespoke designed onboard stretch and movement space.”

The new flight will also significantly reduce travel time by three hours or more compared to one-stop routes, it will travel 22 hours non-stop from Australia to almost any destination worldwide.

New Features Within the Wellbeing Zone

The world’s first purpose-built Wellbeing Zone between the Premium Economy and Economy cabins has many new features.

The easy-to-see visual features include sculptured panels, integrated stretch handles, an on-screen guided exercise program, a hydration station, and a range of refreshments.

Other noticeable features include generous and ergonomic leg room, footrest systems, and storage options.

The Premium Economy class has 40 cabins, while the Economy class has 140.

Besides the visible physical features, some digital features are also part of the A350. Every seat across all four cabins will have multiple fast USB-C charging ports and integrated wireless charging.

Photo showing the Cabin of a Qantas QFA350 plane. (Courtesy of Qantas)

The Qantas A350 will connect customers with fast and free WiFi, while Bluetooth lets customers connect their headsets to the individual inflight entertainment screen.

There are six sizeable First Class Suites with hotel room style flat beds, dining tables for two, separate recliner chairs and a 32” 4k ultra-high-definition touch screen TV.

The 52 Business Class Suites have sliding doors for additional privacy, a flat lay bed, a large dining table, bespoke lighting, and an 18” 4k ultra-high-definition touch screen TV.

At the same time, the Qantas A350 will have a high percentage of premium seats onboard; most customers will travel in the Premium Economy and Economy cabins, so maximising comfort and wellbeing across all cabins was a priority, according to Qantas CEO Alan Joyce.

On June 16, Qantas also published its world-first scientific research on reducing jet lag and improving sleep and overall well-being before, during, and after ultra-long-haul flights.

Australian designer David Caon incorporated the research considerations for his cabin layout and worked closely with seat manufacturers.

After testing thousands of sample fabrics, Caon designed an entirely new Premium Economy seat exclusive to Qantas.

“The Premium Economy cabin has been redesigned from the ground up with a focus on ergonomics, entertainment, and privacy,” Caon said.

He said that the most significant visible difference is the new headrest wings which will provide passengers with additional support.

In the meantime, an upholstered ergonomic foot and leg rest system will allow a person to lie down fully.