Qantas today unveiled the new upper-class cabins it will offer on its Airbus A350s as part of Project Sunrise, an initiative to connect Australia and Europe via direct flights of around 20 hours.
The interiors were designed “with ultra-long haul travel in mind”, the company said in a press release. The development process for the new First and Business Class cabins involved industrial design studio Caon Design and a multi-disciplinary team of scientists from the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney, including sleep specialists.
Qantas had selected the latest Airbus twin-aisle model as the platform for its ultra-long haul flights back in December 2019. However, due to pandemic conditions, the order was repeatedly delayed. In May 2022, the airline finally formalised an order for twelve A350-1000 to enable one of the most complex airline operations in contemporary aviation.
Due to Australia’s geographical location, non-stop connections to Europe and North America have always been a challenge. With Project Sunrise, Qantas seeks to offer a direct service on ultra-long haul, high-demand routes while minimising the impact on the human body. As such, a specific design that took into account the characteristics of these flights was essential.
Instead of choosing the 300+ seat configuration of other operators, the Australian carrier will receive airplanes with a capacity of up to 238 passengers in four classes. Forty per cent of the offer will be upper cabin seating. In addition, it will create a “wellbeing zone” where passengers will be able to walk and stretch.
The Qantas Airbus A350 premium cabins
First Class will offer a service that is intended to resemble a small hotel room. Its customers will have a fixed bed, a separate reclining seat, personal wardrobe, dining table for two and a 32-inch ultra-high definition screen.
The Airbus A350-100s will offer six First Class suites with a 1-1-1 configuration.
All Business Class seats will have direct aisle access to make it easier for passengers to move around the cabin. The company said it will incorporate sliding doors in each space for greater privacy.
It will also include a two-metre long flat bed, ample storage space, a dining table and an 18-inch ultra-high definition touchscreen.
The Airbus A350-100s will offer 52 Business Class suites in a 1-2-1 configuration.
Both classes will offer multiple personal device charging options, including wireless induction charging. In addition, all aircraft will have free high-speed internet service provided by Qantas partner Viasat.
“Qantas has been the leader in opening up new long-haul flights for most of our history, and we are bringing everything we have learned, both technically and in terms of passenger comfort, to Project Sunrise flying”, said Alan Joyce, the company’s CEO.
Qantas said Premium Economy and Economy cabins of its Airbus A350-1000 aircraft will be unveiled in the coming months.
See also: Qantas recovers and reports profits for the first time since the start of the pandemic
