All the way back in 2017 (that’s 8 years ago – how time flies, eh?) Qantas made the incredible announcement that they were working on being able to provide direct flights from the east coast of Australia to Europe and New York. And now, ahead of the flights starting next year, they’ve released details of the new planes that could take us from London to Sydney without any layovers.
The new flights and planes have been codenamed ‘A350 Project Sunrise’, and mark an impressive step forward in air travel. After all, it’s no small feat to travel such an impressive distance without having to stop off along the way. To make the journey, Qantas had to order a fleet of brand-new Airbus A350-1000s.
Have a look at the new aircraft here:
To make the journey as enjoyable as possible, the “cabin interior and service design (have been) influenced by medical and scientific research carried out on research flights.” To maximise comfort onboard the aircraft, they’ve dropped the number of seats to just 238 – the lowest of any A350-1000 in service. Fewer seats means more space to make those seats, and the rest of the aircraft, as comfortable as possible.
The flights will also feature an onboard ‘Wellbeing Zone’ for all passengers. Each aircraft will also provide access to complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, with Bluetooth audio connectivity on the entertainment devices. (Because who has cord-ed headphones in this day and age?)
Qantas made an order for the new aircraft in 2022, and the first one is scheduled to arrive in mid-2026. It will then operate flights from Sydney to London and New York. The aircraft will be capable of “flying from Australia to almost anywhere in the world”.
Flying direct from London to Sydney
Here’s what your seats will look like in Economy. Each flight will have enough seats for 140 Economy-class passengers.
If you’re able to bag yourself a Premium Economy seat – of which there are only 40 on each aircraft – here’s what your journey will look like:
But if you’re flying Business, you’ll be luxuriating in one of the 52 Business suites. (That’s right, these aren’t seats – they’re suites.) Business class suites feature a sliding door for privacy, a large dining table and work surface, and increased storage.
But if you’re really splashing out, here’s what a First class journey will look like. There are just 6 First class suites on each plane. First class travel from London to Sydney on these flights “blurs the lines between air travel and boutique accommodation”. Passengers will have a 2-metre long flat bed and a separate reclining armchair. First class suites also contain “a large flexible work and dining space… (and a) full-length wardrobe”.
Find out more about Qantas’ new A350 Project Sunrise fleet here.
