Qantas is to refit the Boeing 717 fleet of its regional arm QantasLink, installing new seats designed to boost legroom, while taking advantage of the overhaul to add more seats to the shirt-hop jets.

The new seats shift the pocket for magazines and the safety card to the top of the seat, which frees up more space around the passenger’s knees.

The seats are feature an adjustable headrest, a sliding tray table and an extra pocket for storing the likes of a smartphone.

“The refresh will also see the cabin furnishings replaced with an interior colour scheme consistent with Qantas’ contemporary styling onboard Qantas mainline Boeing 737-800 aircraft” a spokesperson for Qantas said.

However, Qantas will use the refit time to install 10 more seats, taking the 717’s total headcount from 115 to 125.

That will likely mean an end to the capacious legroom of row 1, which our Best Seats guide for the QantasLink Boeing 717 called out as the best place to stretch – although seat 1D should still be the choice pick, as the bulkhead doesn't stretch all the way into the aisle.

The first of QantasLink’s refurbished Boeing 717s is expected to enter service in late November.

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