Qantas Unveils ‘Project Sunrise’ First & Business Class On A350s

Qantas has unveiled prototypes of the aircraft’s First and Business cabins, which will fly passengers nonstop from Australia to New York and London beginning in late 2025.

A virtual reality fly-through-fly of the plane’s cabin was also presented (see video below).

The flagship cabins are the first to be designed from the ground up by a team of aviation experts, as well as Caon Design, an Australian industrial design company, and a multidisciplinary team of scientists from the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre, including sleep scientists.

The choice by Qantas to arrange its 12 Airbus A350s to seat 238 people rather than the 300-plus seat configuration required by other airlines has been critical to the interior design.

Alan Joyce, CEO of Qantas Group, said that the investment in new A350 aircraft and approach to interior design follows Qantas’ 100-year tradition of aviation” firsts”.

“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 Mr Joyce.

“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 nonstop flights from Perth to London as we work to make it easier to connect Australia with the rest of the world.”

Customers staying in the roomy First suite will enjoy the extra-wide fixed bed, separate reclining chair, personal wardrobe, dining table for two, and 32″ ultra-high-definition TV that will give them the impression that they are in a small boutique hotel room.

Every Business suite will have direct aisle access for easy movement across the cabin, and sliding doors are provided for privacy if desired.

A two-metre flatbed, abundant storage (including a huge mirror), a cushioned leather ottoman, an 18″ ultra-high definition touch screen TV, a large dining table, and feature lighting round out the Business amenities.

In addition, First and Business will include various personal device charging alternatives, including wireless induction charging.

After the completion of key satellite launches supporting the Qantas worldwide network, the Qantas A350 will deliver fast and free high-speed Wi-Fi with partner Viasat.

Customers can also attach their Bluetooth-enabled headphones to the in-flight entertainment system since the aircraft has a Bluetooth connection.

According to Australian designer David Caon, every option has been used to improve wellbeing and comfort in the First and Business suites.

“We began designing this aircraft cabin five years ago, working with Airbus and Qantas to maximise space, as well as creating a tailored lighting program that will influence mood and sleep patterns,” said Mr Caon.

“All the design and service elements will work together to significantly improve inflight comfort, convenience and health and wellbeing and help minimise the old nemesis of jetlag.

“Every element has been created for Qantas, from the reading light to the fabrics, to ensure that passengers spend their journey in refined comfort.

“There are also several storage design elements to keep personal items within arm’s reach so each passenger can personalise the space to feel like they are in their bed at home.”

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, unveiled alongside the Premium Economy and Economy cabins in the coming months.