Should Jetstar refit its A321LR fleet and install Business Class for Asian offerings?

[LionKing]

In today's Qantas Financial Report, we can expect there will be no A321XLR coming for JQ until at least after FY27.
Meanwhile, its A321LR fleet, which has a range of 7400km, can go for routes such as BNE/CNS-NRT/KIX (up to 7116km), SYD/BNE-HKT/SGN (up to 7259km) and MEL-SIN (6024km).
I actually wonder if Jetstar would really need A321XLRs in its current offerings, and should instead install 20 Business Class seats on its A321LR fleet and replace B787-8 on some of those routes and improve its frequency offerings.
It could mean routes are more flexible allowing Jetstar to do things like SYD-CNS-KIX and allow Business Class passengers to fly on an early morning service to Cairns instead of Economy with lack of social distancing.
B787-8 can then be freed up to do routes such as India and Northern China for new markets?

 

[wandering_fred]

PER-BLR and PER-CMB are certainly within the range of the 321neo
Would allow opening up the sub-continent without needing a 787.
convert the first six or seven rows (which are extra $ seats already) to economy plus with an extra 4-5" of leg room.
Better alternatives for cheap(er) wandering
Fred

 

[elanshin]

In today's Qantas Financial Report, we can expect there will be no A321XLR coming for JQ until at least after FY27.
Meanwhile, its A321LR fleet, which has a range of 7400km, can go for routes such as BNE/CNS-NRT/KIX (up to 7116km), SYD/BNE-HKT/SGN (up to 7259km) and MEL-SIN (6024km).
I actually wonder if Jetstar would really need A321XLRs in its current offerings, and should instead install 20 Business Class seats on its A321LR fleet and replace B787-8 on some of those routes and improve its frequency offerings.
It could mean routes are more flexible allowing Jetstar to do things like SYD-CNS-KIX and allow Business Class passengers to fly on an early morning service to Cairns instead of Economy with lack of social distancing.
B787-8 can then be freed up to do routes such as India and Northern China for new markets?

On paper, this seems like an ok idea.

But there is a lot of benefit to reducing costs and running a 1 cabin configuration. You don't have to have different catering, different service etc. If they really want to play this game I think QF's Economy+ is the way to copy not a mini "J" cabin.

Also I dont see QF group (or western airlines in general) seriously touching the Chinese market for a long while. They can't market it to the Chinese and foreign travel to China fell off a cliff post covid and isn't recovering anytime soon with geopolitics.

 

[oz_mark]

The reporting was that they (the XLRs) were going to get 12 Business Seats. I think they'll wait it out till then.

Jetstar Narrow-Body Jets Getting Business Class

Jetstar will install Business Class seats on its new Airbus A321XlR fleet. Once these new planes arrive, you'll even be able to upgrade into these seats using Qantas Points.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

(There's quite a lead time on getting seats, so even if they did decide to retrofit, it would be sometime before it happened.)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The reporting was that they (the XLRs) were going to get 12 Business Seats. I think they'll wait it out till then.

Jetstar Narrow-Body Jets Getting Business Class

Jetstar will install Business Class seats on its new Airbus A321XlR fleet. Once these new planes arrive, you'll even be able to upgrade into these seats using Qantas Points.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

(There's quite a lead time on getting seats, so even if they did decide to retrofit, it would be sometime before it happened.)

But there must be temporary solutions… old(er) seats out there that could be used in the interim. Rex’s fleet had an eclectic array of J seats from various airlines. Likely more comfortable than anything ‘new’ as they’d been nicely worn in

 

[markis10]

But there must be temporary solutions… old(er) seats out there that could be used in the interim. Rex’s fleet had an eclectic array of J seats from various airlines. Likely more comfortable than anything ‘new’ as they’d been nicely worn in

Not in any great capacity, the current certification/production backlog on new options has resulted in increased uptake of used options that have lost their certification.

 

[LionKing]

I actually wonder where airline seats are manufactured? Can't they be made in China to make sure they are done faster?

 

[SYD]

Not in any great capacity, the current certification/production backlog on new options has resulted in increased uptake of used options that have lost their certification.

Presumably the existing QF J recliner on A321XLR could double as a JQ Biz (PE) seat?

Wouldn’t be the first time the JQ seat was a rebadged QF seat.

 

[markis10]

I actually wonder where airline seats are manufactured? Can't they be made in China to make sure they are done faster?

Been made in China for a long time, doesn’t help supply issues despite Recaro and Safran being the notable brands:

Key Aircraft Seat Manufacturers in China
RECARO Aircraft Seating (China) Co., Ltd.: Located in Qingdao, this was one of the first international manufacturers to establish a dedicated production facility in China (2013), serving the local and Asia-Pacific markets.

Zhejiang Tiancheng Controls Co., Ltd. (ZTC) / Acro: A Chinese manufacturer that acquired UK-based Acro Aircraft Seating in 2017 to expand into high-value seating.

Safran Cabin (China): Part of the global Safran group, providing seats and cabin interiors to Chinese airlines with a strong local presence.

AVIC Cabin Systems: An integrated Chinese state-owned group providing comprehensive cabin interior solutions, including seating, with global operations.

Mirus Aircraft Seating (China): Manufactures, designs, and supplies aircraft seating with operations in China for OEM and retrofit programs.

Guangzhou Hongyi Zhiche Technology Co., Ltd.: A manufacturer listed in Guangdong.
Zhejiang Tenchen Controls Co., Ltd.

 

[dajop]

Maybe they could offer Eurobusiness in the first 2-6 rows

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

If only. I'm looking forward to finally visiting Rarotonga in a few months but absolutely dreading the JQ flight to get there, especially the redeye on the outbound. I'd have happily paid a premium for even a PY-style seat had it been on offer.