A major aircraft order has been announced by Qantas. One of the largest orders in the history of the Australian national carrier is a firm 52 order of the aircraft.
After the Qantas board convened last Thursday, there was a lot of speculation over an imminent announcement and today's confirmation was in line with that.
Project Sunrise flights will begin from Australia to New York, London and other European destinations in the late 20th century. The flights were described as the final fix for the tyranny of distance by CEO Alan Joyce.
The deliveries will be complete by the year 2028.
The A350-1000 aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines which are 25% more fuel than the standard engines.
More than 40 per cent of the cabin is dedicated to premium seating, and the new A350s will carry 238 passengers across four classes. The flight times will last longer than Qantas, who often seat 300 passengers in the same airframe. The airline won't lose out on a light density with expensive tickets and full flights.
“As you’d expect, the cabin is being specially designed for maximum comfort in all classes for long-haul flying.”
Alan Joyce, CEO, Qantas
Premium travellers will appreciate the addition of First suites to the A350s because of the decline of the A380 and large, four-engined aircraft. There is a full seat tour here.
The stylish wooden privacy walls and closing doors of each suite is far cry from the open and exposed A380 First product. The bed and seat are not the same, so passengers can sleep at different times. An enormous screen extends from wall to wall, while 3-4 windows are hidden by a blockout blind. Adding a private wardrobe and dedicated shoe storage will be great additions.
The seat will be controlled from an iPad-style console instead of the cumbersome control buttons that plague the airline's existing First product. There will be plenty of storage and power outlets. Passengers can change their temperature and humidity in their suite.
It is safe to assume the Business seat will be the same as the current product that features in the A330, A380, and B787-9s.
Project Sunrise flights will have a wellbeing zone for passengers. The consistent themes of exercise, in conjunction with research from the University of Sydney, indicated that wellbeing will be an important hurdle for Qantas.
A large area to exercise with guided videos will be located in the area.
The renewal of Qantas' narrow body jets as part of Project Winton is larger than the 12 aircraft orders that seem large. The first of these aircraft will arrive in late calendar 2023, with the order including purchase right options for another 94 aircraft for delivery through to at least 2034.
The new A321XLR will be configured to seat 200 people, a 15% increase over the outgoing B737s with no reduction in space between seats. It can fly more than 3000 km further than the 737 and opens up a wide range of domestic and international routes.
Airbus-A321XLR_Range-MapDownloadThe A220-300 will have 137 people, according to airline sources. The A 220 has double the range of the B717s and can fly between any city in Australia. The range and economics of both aircraft will make new direct routes possible, according to CEO Alan Joyce.
Airbus-A220-200_Range-MapDownloadThe A220-300 burns 28 per cent less fuel per passenger than the B717, and the A321XLR burns 17 per cent less fuel per passenger than the B737. Both will be quieter up to 50%.
“The A320s and A220s will become the backbone of our domestic fleet for the next 20 years, helping to keep this country moving.”
Alan Joyce, CEO, Qantas
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