Ultra-long haul flights are a divisive topic among frequent fliers. Would you rather have the chance to stretch your legs, potentially grab a shower in the lounge, and eat some non-airplane food on a layover, or is your priority getting to your destination as quickly as possible?
Love them or hate them, Australian airline Qantas is betting big on the sector with the launch of the world’s longest commercial flight next year.
Passengers aboard the A350-1000ULR (Ultra Long Range) aircraft will be in the air for up to 22 hours non-stop, with two new direct routes connecting Sydney to London and New York.
For context, the current longest scheduled commercial flight – Singapore Airlines between Newark Liberty International Airport and Changi Airport – is 18 hours and 30 minutes.
The specially configured aircraft is able to fly for longer thanks to an additional 20,000 litre rear centre fuel tank.
The first of these aircraft is currently in Toulouse, and had its engines fitted earlier this week. The plane is now ready for final ground checks, followed by two months of flight testing.
What passengers can expect onboard the A350-1000ULR
According to Qantas, cabins have a “science-backed design to minimise jetlag and maximise wellbeing”.
Instead of the 300-plus seats you might find on other A350-1000 operators, Qantas aircraft will have a 238-seat configuration.
The extra space freed up by this has been used to create a “wellbeing zone” between the premium economy and economy cabins that all passengers can access.
The area has integrated handles you can use for stretching, as well as screens that can guide you through exercise programmes. You’ll also have access to a range of self-service soft drinks and light snacks.
As for the seats, there are six first class suites, 52 business class suites in a 1-2-1 configuration, 40 premium economy seats in a 2-4-2 set-up, and 140 economy seats in a 3-3-3 arrangement.
Compared to those found on an A380, first class suites have 50% more space, with a 56cm reclining armchair and a separate two metre long flat bed.
In business, seats are 63.5cm wide – an additional 2.5cm compared to the A380 – which turn into a two-metre-long flat bed.
Premium economy customers will have a seat pitch of one metre, with a 20.3cm adjustable winged privacy headrest. In economy, the seat pitch is 83.8cm, and comes with a calf rest and a six-way adjustable headrest.
The seat pitch is the distance between a row of seats, and for context, on budget airlines like Ryanair it is 76.2cm, while on full-service carriers like Turkish Airlines it is around 81.3cm.
Free high-speed wifi will be provided to all passengers through Qantas’ partnership with Viasat, and you’ll also be able to connect your own Bluetooth-enabled headsets to the in-flight entertainment system.
The history of ‘Project Sunrise’
Project Sunrise – the nickname for the scheme to create ultra-long haul flights between Australia’s East Coast and cities such as New York, London, Paris, Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro – was first discussed back in 2017.
A nod to the “double sunrise” endurance flights operated by Qantas between Crawley in Western Australia and RAF Base Koggala in what is now Sri Lanka during WWII, both Airbus and Boeing were tasked with extending the flying range of their next generation of long-haul aircraft to accommodate such routes.
Test flights were held in 2019, although the project was then put on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In May 2022, the airline announced it had ordered 12 Airbus A350-1000s, with the aim of operating flights from Sydney to London and New York from the end of 2025.
Now these flights are due to take off in the first half of 2027, although no exact dates have been announced just yet.
“Given Australia’s position in the world, Qantas has a long history of breaking aviation barriers,” Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said after unveiling the first images of the aircraft in November.
“Project Sunrise will not only overcome the tyranny of distance, it will fundamentally change the way our customers travel the world.
“These flights will cut up to four hours off the journey and transform how people experience ultra long-haul travel, through science backed design to minimise jetlag and maximise wellbeing.”
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