Greg McDonald
29th July 2010, 10:05 AM
From News.com.au:
QANTAS has announced a multi-million-dollar upgrade to its in-flight and airport offerings.
Chief executive Alan Joyce revealed Qantas would follow the launch of the next generation of check-in facilities, due to start trials in Perth today, with a program designed to refresh "all components of the travelling experience'', The Australian reports.
Mr Joyce said the upgrade, which would see an additional $40 million spent on lounges alone, was a significant investment ``in refreshing our product, our service, our food, our infrastructure and lounges''.
The program is designed to make the Qantas product more consistent across its aircraft types as well as between domestic and international operations.
..Mr Joyce said the airline would invest millions to upgrade the business, premium economy and economy cabins and seats on nine Boeing 747s to bring them into line with its popular A380.
"The 747s will have the look, feel and the actual hard product that the A380 has,'' Mr Joyce said.
"And then the look and feel of the international product will come into the domestic product in the air and on the ground.''
Domestic business class will also be revamped from November to provide new menus designed by celebrity chef Neil Perry, who is responsible for the airline's premium-class food on international routes. Mr Joyce said the new menus and the facelift in domestic Qantas Club lounges were designed to give passengers a consistent feel both internationally and domestically.
Mr Joyce threw down the gauntlet to Virgin Blue, saying Qantas would prevail no matter what the competition did.
"The advantages that we have in our very strong corporate position in the domestic market are our network, so we're absolutely continuing to grow that,'' Mr Joyce said.
QANTAS has announced a multi-million-dollar upgrade to its in-flight and airport offerings.
Chief executive Alan Joyce revealed Qantas would follow the launch of the next generation of check-in facilities, due to start trials in Perth today, with a program designed to refresh "all components of the travelling experience'', The Australian reports.
Mr Joyce said the upgrade, which would see an additional $40 million spent on lounges alone, was a significant investment ``in refreshing our product, our service, our food, our infrastructure and lounges''.
The program is designed to make the Qantas product more consistent across its aircraft types as well as between domestic and international operations.
..Mr Joyce said the airline would invest millions to upgrade the business, premium economy and economy cabins and seats on nine Boeing 747s to bring them into line with its popular A380.
"The 747s will have the look, feel and the actual hard product that the A380 has,'' Mr Joyce said.
"And then the look and feel of the international product will come into the domestic product in the air and on the ground.''
Domestic business class will also be revamped from November to provide new menus designed by celebrity chef Neil Perry, who is responsible for the airline's premium-class food on international routes. Mr Joyce said the new menus and the facelift in domestic Qantas Club lounges were designed to give passengers a consistent feel both internationally and domestically.
Mr Joyce threw down the gauntlet to Virgin Blue, saying Qantas would prevail no matter what the competition did.
"The advantages that we have in our very strong corporate position in the domestic market are our network, so we're absolutely continuing to grow that,'' Mr Joyce said.