Golden era of travel inspires Qantas A380 refit

Stepping into the upper deck of Qantas’s refurbished A380 is like stepping back in time — exactly the way it’s meant to be.

Qantas cabin designer David Caon in the business section of a refurbished A380 Picture: David Swift.

Stepping into the upper deck of Qantas’s refurbished A380 is a bit like stepping back in time. And that’s exactly the way it’s meant to be.

With its wood-panelled walls, dark fabrics and shiny metal, the business-class cabin is meant to evoke a sense of the “golden era of travel” when flying was a glamorous experience.

“Our hope is that we’ve made it more sophisticated and a little bit more discerning,” says designer David Caon, who also oversaw the Boeing 787-9 and A330 cabin ­fit-outs.

“I think it’s important that every time we approach a design product for Qantas that it’s considered and sophisticated and timeless, so we tried to do something that’s not too focused on trends but is very thought through.”

Mr Caon says the look of the upper deck was intended to be “moody and intimate” rather than masculine.

“In the previous iteration there was a lot of grey and we wanted to up the contrast a little bit and play with a few more textures using ­really nice material you might have in your home,” Mr Caon says.

“Modern passengers have a lot of options out there and we know that the important thing to them is that they have a top-class product when they get on board.”

Mr Caon cites the new-look ­business lounge as his favourite part of the A380 makeover, with its dark green leather couches, soft lighting and wide-screen television.

“This is probably the area where we put most of our effort because it’s unlike anything we’ve done for the airline,’’ he says.

“Looking at it now, even the little lights on the tables are a real touch of home or hotel.

“They’re not something you normally find on an aircraft.”

The 1-2-1 format of the business class cabin is expected to be well received by passengers, who will also enjoy new-look “sleeper suits” in dark charcoal with a burgundy trim, and a route-specific menu from chef Neil Perry.