Qantas Project Sunrise Airbus order 2 May 2022?
 

The Guardian

"Qantas is set to announce a landmark order for Airbus A350-1000 jets capable of non-stop flights from Sydney to London as part of a wider deal with the European planemaker, according to sources.The multibillion-dollar order, to be unveiled in a Sydney airport hangar on Monday, brings the Australian carrier closer to launching record-breaking direct flights of nearly 20 hours on the lucrative “kangaroo route” by mid-2025...

...An Airbus-owned A350-1000 was flying on Sunday from Toulouse to Perth, tracking service FlightRadar24 showed.

Qantas, which has said it would make a significant announcement on Monday about the future of its network, declined to comment. Airbus also declined to comment."

Isn't it slightly ironic that an empty 1000 is flying to perth and not direct to Sydney (presuming it will head straight there after perth)?

https://www.flightradar24.com/AIB151/2bae7b4f

F-WMIL

Indeed...It's only 30 years since Qantas took their new 747-400 non-stop from London to Sydney. You would have thought if tomorrows announcement is about the A350 & LHR-SYD non-stop that Airbus wold at least be able to do Toulouse-Sydney non-stop to show off their new toy.

Guess they have their reasons. Maybe it's to placate der fuhrer so he doesn't think he's going to lose his precious QF9/QF10 services out of Perth?

It’ll be a few more than a dozen 350’s......

On Sunday, the West Australian newspaper said, without citing sources, that the Qantas order would include 12 A350s, 20 A321XLRs and 20 A220s as well as purchase rights for 106 more airplanes spread among the different types.

An airBaltic A220 was parked in Sydney on Sunday, FlightRadar24 showed. That destination is not on a normal route for the European carrier. Australia has no A220 operators at present.

According to Executive Traveller magazine, QF is planning to install 369 seats in their A350-1000s, across FOUR classes. Other airlines that operate the A350-1000, such as CX and QR, have around 330 seats in TWO classes (QR) or THREE classes (CX). If that number is correct, the QF aircraft will be very cramped down the back, given that First takes up a lot of space for relatively few seats.

Qantas to launch Project Sunrise flights to London, New York tomorrow

I read in another article that is was 270 or so.

That sounds far more reasonable!

That will be a lovely sector- I remember when working for them being up all night to young kids- driving 3 hours to Sydney then killing time at work then flying just to Bangkok getting off feeling knackered- now it’s going to be a 20 hour flight direct to London with 11 hour time zone change- couple of nights there and same sector home.

QF royalty is likely boarding the plane in Perth so they can have a jolly.

Having QF staff depart from France was likely a bit risky Covid wise.

A whole heap of fanfare for something 3 plus years away, can only imagine the farewell party he will give himself on his own departure, which might I add, when the heck is he leaving again?

Thats very likely,they will be able to slap each other on the back for 4 hrs & convince themselves what a great job they have done.
They can also check out how many curtains they will need for each aircraft to hide the exhausted crew from the public's eye.

Qantas to place largest order in its 102-year history, targeting 150 Airbus jet

Article by Geoffrey Thomas in The West Australian

"While designed for 369 passengers the A350 will only carry about 270 for the ultra-long-range flights and will be the roomiest of any Qantas jet.
According to the insiders, the configuration of the A350 will be four classes and economy passengers will get a 34-inch (86.4cm) seat pitch, rather than the normal 31 inches (79cm).
And the economy seats will be wider than those on the 787 and 747.
The Qantas A350 economy seats will be 18 inches (45.7cm) wide – almost an inch (2.54cm) wider than those on the 787.
First class, business class and premium economy will all be “significantly” enhanced with more legroom in premium economy, closer to Air New Zealand’s industry high 42 inches (106.7cm)."

Oh there you go,GT in the know again.
I guess he was on the phone to Alan this morning & advised him what seating was required.
Im sure his face will pop up at the Airbus hosted cocktail party in Sydney tomorrow evening.

Yeah but the 7+ hrs in the bunk does help an awful lot. The DRW-LHR and PER-LHR flights are much nicer on my body than the 3 man back of the clock “short” 8-10hr hops from Asia I used to do..

GT, old mate, I wouldn’t get too excited about an apparent 150 jet order. I’m old enough to remember this. You can guarantee if it’s aeroplanes for mainline, it will be as few as possible.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....65a0ddef2.jpeg

I remember that going overhead me shortly after takeoff from Heathrow. Gosh, 30 years ago. Incidentally, there was a fascinating article once on the web by the chief steward on the flight about the catering provision etc. Can't find it any more - anyone know where it is now ?

I also seem to remember an early A340-300 doing nonstop Toulouse-Auckland-Toulouse, eastbound throughout.

At least I'll be pleased they haven't gone for a 787 "Squashliner". Doing an overnight trip in one just before the lockdown, in economy, was the most uncomfortable trip I have ever done.

I believe the record is held by a 777-200LR that flew non-stop from HKG to LHR, eastbound, in 23 hours. That was in 2005.

Indeed, I did 2 trips between Oz and London in economy on the 78. It felt every bit of that 17hr journey, I can tell you. Interestingly I didn't feel as tired as I normally do once I got off that tube. Perhaps the 6k alt air?

I wonder what the ticket prices will be? One 20-hr flight uses considerably more fuel than two 10hr ones. Also, where is the demand for this over a cheaper flight that breaks the journey in two and is only a couple of hours (10%) more elapsed time in total, or gives a chance for a longer slip to acclimatise? How much payload will the aircraft actually be able to carry compared with its nominal capacity?

The longest sector I’ve ever done was just under 18hrs and I felt like crap at the end of it, and I had a bed!