Qantas recently unveiled its complete cabin design of the purpose-built aircraft that will operate the 22-hour non-stop Project Sunrise flights connecting Australia to New York.
Alan Joyce, Group CEO, Qantas travelled on the inaugural Sydney-Auckland-New York flights. He threw focus on the premium seats with premium economy or economy where most customers travel. “Maximizing comfort and wellbeing across all cabins was a priority,” commented Joyce. “We have spent just as much time on the second half of the aircraft as we did on the front, in fact we started studies on the Wellbeing Zone before any other area of the A350. The new Project Sunrise flights give us the opportunity to re-think long-haul travel in its entirety, from aircraft cabin design to what ingredients we include on the inflight menu.”
Qantas is offering a custom-built Wellbeing Zone located between the premium economy and economy cabins with sculpted wall panels and integrated stretch handles, a guided on-screen exercise program, a hydration station and a range of refreshments
Qantas has also significantly reduced the number of seats in the economy cabin compared to other airlines.
Joyce added: “Reducing the number of seats onboard our A350 to 238 compared to the 300-plus seat layout of other carriers means we not only maximise aircraft performance across long distances, we give our passengers more space and comfort. Fewer seats translate to more space for each customer and a dedicated Wellbeing Zone for travellers to stretch, help themselves to a snack and spend time out of their seat. We are the only airline in the world that will have a bespoke designed onboard stretch and movement space.”
The A350 are configured with 140-seat economy and 40-seat premium economy cabins with ergonomic leg and footrest systems and personal storage options. Qantas has also provided every seat with multiple fast USB-C charging ports, and every premium seat with integrated wireless charging.
The A350 will have fast and free WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity in all four cabins, allowing passengers to connect their personal headset to the inflight entertainment screen.
The A350 will have six large enclosed First Suites, which Qantas said are designed to feel like a mini boutique hotel room with a two-meter flat bed, dining table for two, separate recliner chair and a 32-inch 4K ultra-high-definition touch screen TV.
