Jetstar kicks off B787-8 cabin refurbishment project

By Andrew Curran.

Jetstar has sent a B787-8 to Hong Kong for a cabin refurbishment. The aircraft, VH-VKK (msn 36237) ferried up from Melbourne (MEL) on January 26, 2026. The flight is a first step in a project that will see all eleven Jetstar B787-8s refurbished.

Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (HAECO), a major MRO provider at Hong Kong International (HKG) that has a long-standing track record with Jetstar, including working on its B787s, will undertake the work.

In what Jetstar’s characteristically perky social media posts described as a “glow-up,” VH-VKK’s entire cabin will get new Recaro seats. The business class cabin (which will continue to feature recliners rather than true lie-flat seats) will more than double from 21 to 44 seats. Jetstar calls this a “response to growing customer demand.”

The refurbishment project will see a lie-flat crew rest area installed at the rear of the aircraft. The rest facilities will allow the aircraft to fly longer sectors (up to 16 hours), opening up new network opportunities for Jetstar.

The expansion of the business class cabin and installation of the crew rest area will come at the expense of the economy class cabin, which will shrink from 314 to 284 seats. The aircraft's overall seat count will decline from 335 to 325.

The refurbishment project will see all of Jetstar’s B787-8s fitted with in-flight WiFi. The lighter, thinner Recaro seats will not include seatback entertainment screens, although all will have USB-C outlets to help keep passenger's portable entertainment devices charged.

“This is all part of a huge refresh of our 787 fleet which means customers will get more choice and more comfort when taking off further,” Jetstar posted online.

Each B787-8 refurbishment is expected to take up to six weeks, with Jetstar anticipating that VH-VKK will return to service later in March. The airline expects all eleven of its B787-8s to be refurbished and in the air by the end of the year.

Photos: Jetstar.

Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com