Australian airline Qantas is preparing the first test flight for its newest A350-1000ULR (ultra-long-range) aircraft, looking to break the record for the longest commercial flight length at 22 hours in the air. The current longest flight length is held by Singapore Airlines at 18 hours and 30 minutes.
Qantas is aiming to launch the new routes next year, connecting London and New York to Sydney.
Cabin style onboard
Unlike other A350-1000 aircraft, the seat capacity will be a 238 configuration, allowing for a “wellbeing” zone on board. This zone will be accessible to all passengers and located between economy and premium economy, with a range of stretching handles, exercise programmes, drinks and snacks available.
Qantas stated that the cabins have been created for passenger comfort:
“[Using a] science-backed design to minimise jetlag and maximise wellbeing.”
Onboard, there are six first-class suites, 52 business-class suites, 40 premium economy seats and 140 economy seats. WiFi will be available to all passengers, high-speed and free through Viasat’s partnership with Qantas, and Bluetooth headphones will be connectable to the aircraft’s in-flight entertainment system.
“Project Sunrise”
Project Sunrise is the nickname used for the ultra-long-haul flights between the East Coast of Australia and London, Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town and New York. The history behind this name, coined for the project in 2017, is the “double sunrise” WWII Qantas endurance flights from Crawley, Western Australia, and Koggala RAF Base, now known as SLAF Koggala, Sri Lanka (KCT).
In 2019, test flights were carried out, but the COVID-19 pandemic put the project on hold. In 2022, Qantas began ordering aircraft to carry out the operation, looking at beginning the flight routes by the end of 2025. It is now aiming to launch the first flights in early 2027.
Vanessa Hudson, Qantas Group’s CEO, said:
“Project Sunrise will not only overcome the tyranny of distance, it will fundamentally change the way our customers travel the world.”
Would you fly with Qantas on one of these ultra-long-range flights? Let us know in the comments below.
