Virgin Australia is rolling out lie-flat business class seats on flights between the east and west coasts as it steps up its efforts to win over corporate travellers from rival Qantas.
The new seats will be available on trans-continental flights between, Perth and the east coast cities of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, with the upgrades to the airline's A330 fleet expected to be completed by the end of October.
Since the appointment of chief executive John Borghetti in 2010, the once low-cost airline has set its sights on the Qantas-dominated corporate market, setting the scene for a battle that saw both airlines post heavy losses in 2013/14.
The new business class seats include a 1-2-1 seat layout common on many international carriers to ensure all passengers have aisle access, while passengers will be able to lie fully-flat with a mattress topper, pillows and doonas.
Passengers will also be offered Nespresso coffee and a menu designed by celebrity chef Luke Mangan.
Qantas started rolling out lie-flat business class seats on its fleet of A330s, including on some domestic flights, late last year.
Virgin will also roll out a new business class on international flights to Los Angeles and Abu Dhabi later this year.
Mr Borghetti said the new seats would provide a competitive advantage against Qantas.
"We believe this new product will ensure that Virgin Australia is the number one choice for premium travellers on the all-important trans-continental routes," he said.
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