Australian airline Qantas has unveiled new first-class and business class cabins for its “Project Sunrise” ultra-long-haul flights, set to launch in 2025. The flights will take passengers from Sydney to New York and London, and will be flown on Airbus A350 aircraft designed for ultra-long-haul travel.
Luxurious Amenities
The airline has revealed the first and business class cabin prototypes for the 12 Airbus A350s. Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said in a statement that the A350 cabins have “the most sophisticated and thoughtful design of any airline, combining cutting edge technology with sleep research to shape the look and feel for what is effectively a new era of travel.”
First-class passengers will enjoy a fixed bed, separate recliner chair, personal closet, dining table for two, and a 32-inch ultra-high definition TV. The aircraft will have six first-class suites in a 1-1-1 configuration. Business class passengers will have access to a more than 6-foot-long lie-flat bed in calming tones of taupe and grey, a leather ottoman, an 18-inch touch screen TV, bluetooth connectivity, wireless charging, and a sliding door for privacy. The aircraft will have 52 business class suites in a 1-2-1 configuration.
Free Wi-Fi and Comfortable Economy Seats
All passengers on the Project Sunrise flights will have access to free Wi-Fi, which is being installed across the carrier’s A350 fleet. The flights will also include 40 premium economy seats and 140 economy seats.
Qantas started testing the ultra-long routes in 2019 with 20-hour flights from Sydney to see how the human body could handle spending an entire day in the air. The airline’s Perth to London non-stop flights have been extremely popular with customers, and the airline is now looking to make it easier for passengers to connect Australia with the rest of the world.
Positive Impact on Airline Industry
The launch of Project Sunrise is set to have a positive impact on the airline industry, with Qantas leading the way in opening up new long-haul flights. The airline’s cutting-edge technology and focus on passenger comfort will provide a new level of comfort for travellers on long-haul flights, and the availability of free Wi-Fi will make the flying experience better.
