Qantas unveiled their long awaited ‘project sunrise’ solution today. Long considered the holy grail of aviation, a non-stop connection between London and Sydney seemed impossible, then economically unfeasible, then with COVID, undesirable. Qantas’ announcement today finally will make the route a reality beginning in 2025. It will save passengers hours in travel time but result in over 19 hours in the air, enabling a flight so long that passengers will see two sunrises between takeoff and landing on flights between London and Sydney.
Finding the Right Aircraft
Qantas and other airlines have sought to connect London and Sydney on a non-stop route for decades. There have been the occasional nonstop charter and demonstration flights between London and Sydney utilizing the Boeing 777 and 787. The problem though is that the distance is so great that flights were severely weight restricted, making daily travel uneconomical.
The sheer distance between cities means that passengers who want to fly today between two distant cities have lengthy layovers in places like Singapore, Hong Kong, or Perth. This means that travel typically results in well over a day of travel in each direction. Qantas initially had to identify an aircraft that could make the record setting route economical. They originally tested the route using a Boeing 787. In 2019, they announced that the A350 would be their jet of choice for the route. Today, Qantas announced an order for 12 A350-1000 jets along with an order for A321XLRs and A220-300 to grow and refresh their fleet.
Research to make the flight tolerable
At 19 hours, it would be the world’s longest scheduled route. A flight that long is nothing to sneeze at. It presents real challenges that could affect physical and mental health if they were not proactively addressed. Qantas began a series of research flights using a Boeing 787-9 to identify how to make the future route more pleasant and safe for passengers. During the flights, they flew only 40 employees on each route, utilizing surveys and post flight evaluations to find the optimal solution for dining, personal space, entertainment, and health.
How They Will Make The Flights More Pleasant
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said: “New types of aircraft make new things possible. That’s what makes today’s announcement so significant for the national carrier and for a country like Australia where air travel is crucial.
“Throughout our history, the aircraft we’ve flown have defined the era we’re in. The 707 introduced the jet age, the 747 democratized travel and the A380 brought a completely new level of comfort. The A350 and Project Sunrise will make any city just one flight away from Australia. It’s the last frontier and the final fix for the tyranny of distance. As you’d expect, the cabin is being specially designed for maximum comfort in all classes for long-haul flying.”
Qantas’ A350 aircraft will be configured with just 238 passengers. That’s about 30% less than what other airlines fly on comparable jets. The jets will provide more space for passengers in all cabins of service. Premium cabins will comprise 40% of the overall cabin space. First class will introduce a new seat which is actually a private suite offering a seat that transforms into a bed, a 32″ entertainment screen, plenty of storage and a seat for visiting passengers.
Economy passengers will also benefit as they will have 33″ of legroom. That’s more akin to economy-plus space on most domestic carriers. One major announcement is that the long haul A350 cabins will offer a ‘well being’ space for all passengers. This is a dedicated space for passengers to stretch their legs. The airline will offer screens offering relaxing videos that guide passengers for proper stretches. It will also offer snacks and self-serve hydration stations in areas that won’t get in the way of flight attendants’ service galleys.
Service is expected to begin in 2025. Other long distance routes like Sydney to the east coast of the United States and Australia to other destinations in Europe are possible with the new fleet.
