First refurbished Jetstar 787 Dreamliner takes flight from Melbourne

Jetstar’s first refurbished Boeing 787 Dreamliner launched its inaugural service from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Phuket International Airport (HKT) on April 7, 2026. This flight marked the beginning of a fleet-wide cabin overhaul that the airline calls the most significant transformation in its Dreamliner history.

The aircraft arrived in Melbourne from Hong Kong after completing a multi-million-dollar refit. All 11 of Jetstar’s 787 Dreamliners are scheduled to go through the same process, with the full fleet transformation expected to wrap up by late 2027.

A much bigger business cabin

The most visible change in the refurbishment can be seen up front. Jetstar has more than doubled its business class capacity, expanding from 21 seats to 44 in response to what the airline says is growing demand for premium travel at budget-friendly prices.

The new business class seats come with a 38-inch pitch and seven inches of recline, a six-way adjustable headrest, enhanced cushioning, calf and footrests, bi-fold in-arm tray tables with a cocktail table, seatback device holders, and dual USB-C charging ports.

Economy gets a refresh too

The economy cabin has been fitted with all-new RECARO seats offering a 30-inch pitch and five inches of recline, two inches more than what passengers get on Jetstar’s A320neo and A321LR aircraft. The seats also feature six-way adjustable headrests, extra cushioning, device holders, and USB-C charging.

Wi-Fi comes to the Dreamliner fleet

For the first time on Jetstar’s 787s, passengers will have access to in-flight Wi-Fi. The airline has partnered with Viasat, the same satellite internet provider used on Qantas flights, to deliver connectivity that supports streaming, messaging, and general browsing.

Business class passengers get complimentary access to Jetstar’s Streaming-Plus tier, which offers unlimited entertainment and browsing. Economy passengers can purchase one of two Wi-Fi packages: Streaming-Plus for unlimited access starting at AU$25 (US$17) or Social Plus, a lighter option covering basic browsing and social media starting at AU$20 (US$14).

One trade-off worth noting is that seatback screens have been removed. Passengers are encouraged to bring their own devices and headsets and stream content through the onboard Wi-Fi.

Flying further

Beyond the cabin upgrades, the refit includes six lie-flat crew rest bunks installed at the rear of the aircraft. This is the change that unlocks longer routes. With proper crew rest facilities onboard, Jetstar’s 787s can now operate flights of up to 16 hours, a significant jump that opens the door to new destinations down the line.

Jetstar currently flies its 787 fleet to destinations across Asia, including Tokyo, Osaka, Singapore, Seoul, Phuket, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and soon, Colombo in Sri Lanka. The extended range gives the airline room to grow its international network in the years ahead.

A new way to bid for business class

To coincide with the refreshed fleet, Jetstar recently launched BidCash, a product that lets passengers place a cash bid for a business class upgrade on international 787 flights. The airline also plans to extend the option to Qantas Frequent Flyer members, who will eventually be able to bid using Qantas Points through both a Classic Upgrade Reward option and a Points Plus Pay offering.

With business capacity more than doubling on some international routes, the odds of landing an upgrade have improved considerably.

Jetstar Group CEO Stephanie Tully called the return of the first revamped Dreamliner a milestone for the airline.

“The cabin transformation is remarkable, but what really matters is what it means for our customers – more comfort, more connectivity, and soon, more destinations,” Tully said. “We’ve invested heavily in this fleet because we believe our customers deserve access to more low fares on longer international routes, and these refurbished aircraft are how we deliver that. Doubling our business cabin means more people than ever can takeoff in style for less and installing wi-fi capability allows customers to remain fully connected in the air.”

“With the capability to fly up to 16 hours, we’re now better placed than ever to connect our customers to more of the world for less,” Tully added. “This is just the first of 11 – we’re only getting started.”

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