Qantas is officially in it for the long haul.
The company has announced of when it will begin direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne to London and New York.
The national carrier is set to enable non-stop flights from key Australian cities from late 2025.
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Qantas has ordered up to a 12 Airbus A350-1000s for their ‘Project Sunrise’, which will create record-breaking flights of more than 20 hours.
The project was initially slated to launch in 2023, however, with the pandemic putting a halt on all travel we finally have a date locked in.
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said: “For more than 100 years, Qantas has been at the forefront of transforming the way the world travels, particularly through direct flights.
“Now, the A350 and Project Sunrise will make almost any city in the world just one flight away from Australia.
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“It’s the last frontier and the final fix for the tyranny of distance that has traditionally challenged travel to Australia.”
Qantas started direct flights from Perth to London in 2017, which was their longest route on the network before the pandemic hit.
They say the direct flight saw ‘the highest customer satisfaction’ on their network and believe demand for such direct flights is going to increase post-Covid-19.
Passengers will be flying in style as well with the A350 aircraft carrying First Class suites that include a bed, recliner lounge chair, and personal wardrobe - everything you need for a full day flight experience.
The aircraft will only board 238 passengers, the lowest compared to any other flight - and for anyone that’s been on long-distance flights, that’s definitely a win.
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The A350 will also include a dedicated Wellbeing Zone, giving passengers a space for movement, stretching and hydration - exactly what the doctor ordered.
Mr Joyce continued: “The Qantas A350 travel experience will be truly exceptional, particularly across the premium cabins. Our First and Business Class Seats will set a new benchmark for premium long-haul travel.
“The first Project Sunrise flights will be from New York and London, but the aircraft will also be able to operate non-stop flights to Australia from destinations such as Paris and Frankfurt.”
The stress of missing a connecting flight may finally be over for Australians.
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Qantas has also announced a renewal of 20 Airbus A321XLRs and 20 A220-300s in response to the Boeing 737s and 717s gradually being retired.
Mr Joyce said: “All of these next generation aircraft – through their lower emissions, longer range, less noise and better economics – will improve how people travel around Australia and overseas.”
Aussies will be in prime position to take on every corner of the globe come 2025.
Jayden Collins