Qantas reveals first cabin upgrade for Bombardier turboprop fleet

Qantas has completed a cabin refurbishment on the first of its turboprop aircraft, as the group undertakes an upgrade program across its Bombardier fleet.

The new cabin was revealed on a Bombardier Q300 at Tamworth Airport, which is the group’s hub for regional aircraft maintenance. The remainder of the QantasLink turboprops are scheduled to undergo refurbishment by the end of 2019. The turboprop fleet comprises three Q200s, 11 Q300s and 31 Q400s.

The upgrade includes new leather upholstery and cushioning, and a new interior color scheme. Seatbacks now have a fitting to hold tablet devices for viewing. Photoluminescent escape path lighting will replace the electrically operated floor lighting, which will help save weight and reduce maintenance. The changes will help align the turboprop product with the domestic jet fleet, Qantas said.

Each one of the turboprops takes 10 days to upgrade, with the refurbishment coinciding with scheduled maintenance.