Qantas is set to revolutionise transcontinental travel with its ambitious Project Sunrise initiative, launching non-stop flights between London and Sydney from October 2027. The landmark service will cut journey times by almost 90%, reducing what was once a gruelling five-day trek along the original 'Kangaroo Route' in 1947 to just 22 hours.
The development of these ultra-long-range aircraft has been nine years in the making, sparked by a 2017 challenge from Qantas to both Airbus and Boeing. In a remarkable display of collaboration, Airbus rose to the challenge, dedicating an estimated one million working hours and holding 322 meetings to bring the project to fruition.
Qantas has committed a substantial £2.5 billion investment for the twelve A350-1000ULR planes, with the first delivery scheduled for April 2027 and five more by November, coinciding with the inaugural flights. Project Sunrise is projected to generate annual earnings of around £300 million once the entire fleet is operational, underscoring its commercial potential.
Achieving the 22-hour flight duration required significant engineering innovation. The A350-1000ULR aircraft will feature an additional 20,000-litre fuel tank and a carefully designed cabin layout with just 238 seats across four classes: six first-class suites, 52 business suites, 40 premium economy, and 140 economy seats.
The journey to this milestone was not without its challenges. Supply chain disruptions, delays in certifying specific seat engineering in France, and post-pandemic shortages of skilled labour all impacted the project. However, the collaboration between Qantas and Airbus has persevered, culminating in this historic announcement from the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse.