Qantas Reveals Second Airbus A350-1000ULR

Qantas’ second Airbus A350-1000ULR has emerged from the assembly line in Toulouse as part of the airline’s Project Sunrise endeavour.

These new A350-1000ULR jets, which have been ordered, will be configured to enable the world’s longest commercial flights to launch and thus overcome the obstacles that have previously prevented such travel.

With nonstop Australian East Coast through to London and New York flights on the horizon, this second unit follows the reveal of the first aircraft late last year, which is undergoing testing in preparation for approval and first delivery to the Australian flag-carrier.

What is Qantas’ Project Sunrise?

Project Sunrise is Qantas’ ambitious initiative to conquer the ultra-long-haul aviation sector, announced in 2017 to directly link nonstop flights from the East Coast of Australia to major global hubs and eliminate routes previously unviable due to range limitations.

Named after the arlines Double Sunrise flights in the WWII era, the missions back then saw crews witness two dawns, and thus the new endeavour honours the legacy of the airline and its efforts to make endurance flying viable.

The project’s strong feasibility studies were conducted in 2019, when research flights were conducted on Boeing 787 aircraft, including a new nonstop flight to Sydney, with scientists closely monitoring passengers’ well-being and sleep data to help reduce jet lag and inform future designs.

Unfortunately, the endeavour was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic before the airline eventually ordered the A350-1000ULR over the 777X from Boeing as the answer to this initiative aiming to launch by the mid-way point of the 2020s with marathon services.

How Has Qantas Configured The A350-1000ULR?

Qantas has configured its 12 Airbus A350-1000ULRs with 238 seats in total, a lower density compared with other A350-1000 operators, which place greater emphasis on space and comfort over capacity.

Qantas’ decision to do this not only sees space and comfort as a key priority, but also includes 140 Economy Class seats, a move that other airlines, who have or intend to operate ultra long haul flights, like Singapore Airlines, opt away from, instead choosing a premium, exclusive cabin.

The Australian flag-carrier, however, included Economy, seeing it as crucial to commercial viability, not excluding any demographic, and still ensuring around 40%+ premium allocation that balances luxury with accessibility.

A unique Wellbeing follows Economy, between Premium Economy and Economy, for stretching, snacks, and movement to combat deep vein thrombosis on 20+ hour marathon journeys. The airline offers wider seats than normal, along with ergonomic support.

In the front of the cabin, there are 40 Premium Economy seats in a 2-4-2 configuration, with 52 Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 layout, followed by 6 first-class suites at the front of the plane.

The airline’s decisions on the cabin layout came after years of studies, which were certainly fueled by 2019 research flights that showed the airline what would be deemed the best configuration.

Where Will Qantas Fly The A350-1000ULR?

Qantas’ A350-1000ULR will initially be deployed on short- to medium-haul routes, and the aircraft will be slowly introduced to locations such as Auckland as part of crew training.

However, the premise of the Airbus jets will be to see them deployed across ultra-long-haul marathon flights, with key markets already targeted and all but confirmed, awaiting the neccesary delivery of jets.

Launching first will be high-profile routes from Sydney, such as through London Heathrow and New York JFK, two Kangaroo routes, but currently serviced via stopovers. Project Sunrise and the A350-1000ULR aim to eliminate the requirement for connections and open a one-stop link.

Melbourne is also expected to serve a key market for Project Sunrise services, with the airline also targeting the launch of similar flights and beyond. It’s expected that, with the delivery of the A350-1000ULRs, a clearer picture will emerge of the network’s shaping and of fundamental announcements.