Qantas Is Re-Slicing Its 485-Seat Airbus A380 Floor Plan As British Airways Removes 88 Economy Seats

Qantas is bringing forward the retirement of its Airbus A380 fleet, while reconfiguring the aircraft to capture demand for more premium seating before they leave the Australian carrier’s service. The airline accelerated the start of A380 retirements to 2028 from 2032, aligning with the delivery timeline for additional next-generation Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 aircraft. Qantas says its new international fleet era is centered on models including A350-1000ULR units for Project Sunrise routes to London and New York, plus further orders for A350s and 787s. The company expects these replacements to support stronger margins and lower fuel-related pressure. British Airways is also updating its A380s, though reportedly with a more significant economy-seat reduction than Qantas’ plan.