QANTAS Airways will introduce its new 32-seat International Premium Economy cabin on the Johannesburg-Sydney route on April 2, according to newly appointed manager Africa, Michaela Messner.

Premium-economy passengers will be entitled to, among other things, priority check-in, two items of hand luggage and priority boarding and disembarkation. Services and facilities will include pre-take-off champagne, orange juice or water; newspapers; jacket collection; 2-4-2 seating; a 97-102cm seat pitch, depending on aircraft configuration; extra-wide ergonomically designed seats; six-way adjustable headrests; audio and video on demand and more than 300 entertainment choices. Messner confirmed Qantas was adding a sixth frequency to Sydney in December this year and planned to fly daily on the route from June 2009. This is in addition to five frequencies operated on a codeshare basis with South African Airways on the Johannesburg/Perth route. There are no plans to introduce flights to Cape Town.