Qantas has unveiled prototypes of the First and Business cabins on the Airbus A350 aircraft that will fly passengers non-stop from Australia to New York and London from late 2025.
Designed with ultra-long-haul travel in mind, the flagship cabins have been developed from the ground up by a mix of aviation specialists, as well as Australian industrial design studio Caon Design, and a multidisciplinary team of scientists from the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre, including sleep scientists.
Key to the cabin design has been giving passengers more space, made possible by Qantas’ decision to configure its 12 Airbus A350s to seat 238 passengers compared with the 300-plus seat layout specified by other carriers.
“Qantas has been the leader in opening up new long-haul flights for most of our history, and we’re bringing everything we’ve learned, both technically and in terms of passenger comfort, to Project Sunrise flying,” said Alan Joyce, Qantas Group CEO. “We think our A350 cabins have the most sophisticated and thoughtful design of any airline, combining cutting-edge technology with sleep research to shape the look and feel for what is effectively a new era of travel. We’re building on the customer experience of our extremely popular non-stop flights from Perth to London as we keep working to make it easier to connect Australia with the rest of the world.”
The spacious First suite has a range of features designed to make customers feel like they are in a mini boutique hotel room complete with an extra-wide fixed bed, separate recliner chair, personal wardrobe, dining table for two and a 32-inch ultra-high definition TV.
Every Business suite will have direct aisle access for ease of moving around the cabin, and Qantas is incorporating sliding doors into the suite for privacy, if desired.
Other Business features include a two-metre flat bed, generous storage (including a large mirror), cushioned leather ottoman, 18-inch ultra-high definition touch screen TV, large dining table and feature lighting.
First and Business will also offer multiple personal device charging options, including wireless induction charging.
The Qantas A350 will offer fast and free high-speed Wi-Fi with partner Viasat, following completion of key satellite launches covering the Qantas international network.
The aircraft will also feature Bluetooth connectivity, allowing all customers to connect their own Bluetooth-enabled headset to the inflight entertainment system.
The Qantas A350 will have six First suites in a 1-1-1 configuration and 52 Business suites in a 1-2-1 configuration.
It will also feature a Wellbeing Zone for all passengers, which will be unveiled alongside the Premium Economy and Economy cabins in the coming months.
