Latest news with #ProjectSunriseA350
The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
World's longest flight was the worst 18 hours of my life – here's the only reason I'm tempted back onboard
BACK in 2018, I spent 18 hours trapped in what felt like a flying sardine can on Qantas' inaugural Perth to London route. Seven years later, the airline is finally fixing everything that made me want to never fly direct again - and launching an even longer Sydney to London route that could actually be worth doing. 11 Jacob spent 18 hours on Qantas' inaugural Perth to London route in 2018 Credit: The Sun 11 The writer says the trip made him want to never fly direct again Credit: Jacob Lewis - The Sun 11 The food on the flight was largely tasteless Credit: The Sun 11 It was designed by nutrition experts to keep you hydrated Credit: The Sun When Qantas launched the world's longest flight from the UK back then, I was the It was supposed to be a game-changer for British holidaymakers heading Down Under, cutting out those tedious stopovers in Dubai or Singapore. Instead, it felt more like an endurance test. The problems started before we'd even left the ground. Unable to check in online, I was saved from a dreaded middle seat only by the kindness of a fellow passenger who wanted to sit next to her boyfriend. What followed was 18 hours of pure misery. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner might sound fancy, but in economy it was anything but dreamy. Squeezed into seats just 17.2 inches wide - narrower than most other long-haul aircraft - I spent the flight feeling like I was wedged into a child's chair. The 32-inch seat pitch meant my knees were practically kissing the seat in front, and that was before we hit turbulence from Tropical Cyclone Marcus that had us bouncing around for the first hour. Flying away from the sunrise into total darkness for the entire journey, the route also holds the depressing honour of being the world's longest flight without daylight - adding an extra layer of misery to an already brutal experience. While the food - designed by nutrition experts to be intentionally bland and keep you hydrated - was largely tasteless. But the real killer? The complete lack of WiFi on what was supposed to be Qantas' flagship route. Qantas reveal Project Sunrise A350 For someone used to being constantly connected, going offline for nearly 17 hours felt like stepping back into the Stone Age. Why The Route Exists The Australia . Even modern connections through Dubai or Singapore add hours to your journey and the hassle of changing planes. 11 Qantas is replacing those Dreamliners with brand-new Airbus A350-1000s Credit: Qantas 11 The Perth-London route is about cold, hard economics Credit: Jacob Lewis - The Sun For Aussies living on the west coast, Perth is their natural gateway to Europe. The city is closer to London than Sydney is, making it the obvious choice for the first direct connection between the two nations. Plus, it opens up Western Australia 's pristine beaches, vineyards and wildlife to British tourists who might otherwise head straight to Sydney. The fuel-efficient but cramped Dreamliner made these ultra-long routes commercially viable for the first time, though my inaugural flight had 23 empty economy seats - suggesting passengers weren't immediately convinced by the direct option. Game-Changing Upgrades? Fast-forward to 2025, and Qantas has finally listened to feedback from passengers like me who endured that maiden voyage. The numbers tell the story: where the old planes had economy seats squeezed to just 17.2 inches wide, the new A350s will feature 18-inch seats - actually wider than the airline's double-decker A380s used on their stopover routes. That might sound like a small difference, but when you're trapped for 17 hours, every millimetre counts. Even better, seat pitch increases from a knee-crunching 32 inches to a much more civilised 34 inches. It's still not business class, but it's the difference between agony and merely uncomfortable. The Wellness Revolution 11 The new planes will feature a dedicated 'Wellbeing Zone' Credit: Quantas 11 Passengers on the new Qantas route will be able to actually get up, stretch, and move around Credit: Quantas Perhaps most importantly, the new planes will feature something completely unheard of in economy: a dedicated "Wellbeing Zone" where passengers can actually get up, stretch, and move around during the flight. Anyone who's done a long-haul flight knows that desperate dance in the aisles trying to get blood flowing back to your legs. Having a proper space to stretch could be the difference between arriving in London feeling human versus feeling like you've been folded into a suitcase for a day. The entertainment system gets a major upgrade too, with 13.3-inch touchscreens (bigger than many laptops), Bluetooth connectivity for your own headphones, and modern high-speed USB-C charging ports. Most crucially, there will finally be WiFi - because who wants to go offline for nearly a day in 2025? 'Project Sunrise' 11 Qantas is fixing the Perth route and launching the ultimate endurance test: direct flights from Sydney to London with 'Project Sunrise' Qantas isn't just fixing the Perth route - they're launching the ultimate endurance test: direct flights from Sydney to London that will take over 19 hours, plus a Sydney to New York route. "Project Sunrise," as they're calling it, will offer the same spacious cabins and wellness zones, but for an even longer journey. The Sydney routes will benefit from flying in the opposite direction around the world over the South Pole, potentially offering truly direct flights both ways regardless of the geopolitical complications that have plagued the Perth route. When it launches in early 2027, the Sydney-London service will claim the The Sydney-London route will stretch over 10,500 miles and could take up to 20 hours. It's either the future of air travel or absolute madness - I'm genuinely not sure which. Worth The Premium? 11 A look at what the First class suites might look like 11 The business suites onboard the airline's new planes Qantas says Sydney-London passengers will pay an estimated 20% premium over connecting flights, but the airline has said that early feedback suggests people are willing to cough up the extra cash to avoid stopovers. That 20% price hike is the big question. On a £800 return ticket to Australia, you're looking at an extra £160 to fly direct. For many, that's a small price to pay to avoid the hassle of connections, especially if you're traveling with kids or lots of luggage. The maths gets even more compelling when you factor in potential hotel costs during long layovers, airport food, and the sheer exhaustion of navigating multiple airports. Plus, with the new cabin features like free Wi-Fi, you're getting some of the premium economy experience at economy prices. Business travellers will likely snap up the direct option without thinking twice. For leisure travellers, it depends whether you value the time and convenience over saving a few quid. My Verdict Seven years ago, I would have told anyone considering the Perth-London route to book a connection instead. The cramped conditions, lack of amenities, and general misery made it feel like paying extra to be tortured. But these new A350s sound like a completely different proposition. Wider seats than even the A380 which operates on stopover routes, WiFi, and space to move around could actually make 17+ hours in economy bearable - maybe even preferable to the hassle of connections. I'm genuinely tempted to give it another go when the new planes start flying. That's something I never thought I'd say after my inaugural flight experience. The real test will be whether Qantas can deliver on these promises. Airlines are great at talking up new cabins, but the proof will be in the flying. If they get it right, they might just have revolutionised ultra-long-haul travel. If they don't, well, at least Singapore and Dubai have the
Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
World's longest flight was the worst 18 hours of my life – here's the only reason I'm tempted back onboard
New planes will also offer a feature that's completely unheard of in economy... and it could make a huge difference for travellers PLANE NO World's longest flight was the worst 18 hours of my life – here's the only reason I'm tempted back onboard BACK in 2018, I spent 18 hours trapped in what felt like a flying sardine can on Qantas' inaugural Perth to London route. Seven years later, the airline is finally fixing everything that made me want to never fly direct again - and launching an even longer Sydney to London route that could actually be worth doing. 11 Jacob spent 18 hours on Qantas' inaugural Perth to London route in 2018 Credit: The Sun 11 The writer says the trip made him want to never fly direct again Credit: Jacob Lewis - The Sun 11 The food on the flight was largely tasteless Credit: The Sun 11 It was designed by nutrition experts to keep you hydrated Credit: The Sun When Qantas launched the world's longest flight from the UK back then, I was the first journalist to test it out in economy - crammed into cattle class for every excruciating minute of the 17-hour fight (nearly 18 hours including tarmac time) from Perth to London. It was supposed to be a game-changer for British holidaymakers heading Down Under, cutting out those tedious stopovers in Dubai or Singapore. Instead, it felt more like an endurance test. The problems started before we'd even left the ground. Unable to check in online, I was saved from a dreaded middle seat only by the kindness of a fellow passenger who wanted to sit next to her boyfriend. What followed was 18 hours of pure misery. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner might sound fancy, but in economy it was anything but dreamy. Squeezed into seats just 17.2 inches wide - narrower than most other long-haul aircraft - I spent the flight feeling like I was wedged into a child's chair. The 32-inch seat pitch meant my knees were practically kissing the seat in front, and that was before we hit turbulence from Tropical Cyclone Marcus that had us bouncing around for the first hour. Flying away from the sunrise into total darkness for the entire journey, the route also holds the depressing honour of being the world's longest flight without daylight - adding an extra layer of misery to an already brutal experience. While the food - designed by nutrition experts to be intentionally bland and keep you hydrated - was largely tasteless. But the real killer? The complete lack of WiFi on what was supposed to be Qantas' flagship route. Qantas reveal Project Sunrise A350 For someone used to being constantly connected, going offline for nearly 17 hours felt like stepping back into the Stone Age. Why The Route Exists The Perth-London route isn't just about convenience - it's about cold, hard economics. When the "kangaroo route" first opened in 1947, passengers had to endure seven stops over four days to reach Australia. Even modern connections through Dubai or Singapore add hours to your journey and the hassle of changing planes. 11 Qantas is replacing those Dreamliners with brand-new Airbus A350-1000s Credit: Qantas 11 The Perth-London route is about cold, hard economics Credit: Jacob Lewis - The Sun For Aussies living on the west coast, Perth is their natural gateway to Europe. The city is closer to London than Sydney is, making it the obvious choice for the first direct connection between the two nations. Plus, it opens up Western Australia's pristine beaches, vineyards and wildlife to British tourists who might otherwise head straight to Sydney. The fuel-efficient but cramped Dreamliner made these ultra-long routes commercially viable for the first time, though my inaugural flight had 23 empty economy seats - suggesting passengers weren't immediately convinced by the direct option. Game-Changing Upgrades? Fast-forward to 2025, and Qantas has finally listened to feedback from passengers like me who endured that maiden voyage. After multiple delays - the airline is replacing those cramped Dreamliners with brand-new Airbus A350-1000s that promise to transform the ultra-long-haul experience. The numbers tell the story: where the old planes had economy seats squeezed to just 17.2 inches wide, the new A350s will feature 18-inch seats - actually wider than the airline's double-decker A380s used on their stopover routes. That might sound like a small difference, but when you're trapped for 17 hours, every millimetre counts. Even better, seat pitch increases from a knee-crunching 32 inches to a much more civilised 34 inches. It's still not business class, but it's the difference between agony and merely uncomfortable. The Wellness Revolution 11 The new planes will feature a dedicated 'Wellbeing Zone' Credit: Quantas 11 Passengers on the new Qantas route will be able to actually get up, stretch, and move around Credit: Quantas Perhaps most importantly, the new planes will feature something completely unheard of in economy: a dedicated "Wellbeing Zone" where passengers can actually get up, stretch, and move around during the flight. Anyone who's done a long-haul flight knows that desperate dance in the aisles trying to get blood flowing back to your legs. Having a proper space to stretch could be the difference between arriving in London feeling human versus feeling like you've been folded into a suitcase for a day. The entertainment system gets a major upgrade too, with 13.3-inch touchscreens (bigger than many laptops), Bluetooth connectivity for your own headphones, and modern high-speed USB-C charging ports. Most crucially, there will finally be WiFi - because who wants to go offline for nearly a day in 2025? 'Project Sunrise' 11 Qantas is fixing the Perth route and launching the ultimate endurance test: direct flights from Sydney to London with 'Project Sunrise' Qantas isn't just fixing the Perth route - they're launching the ultimate endurance test: direct flights from Sydney to London that will take over 19 hours, plus a Sydney to New York route. "Project Sunrise," as they're calling it, will offer the same spacious cabins and wellness zones, but for an even longer journey. The Sydney routes will benefit from flying in the opposite direction around the world over the South Pole, potentially offering truly direct flights both ways regardless of the geopolitical complications that have plagued the Perth route. When it launches in early 2027, the Sydney-London service will claim the title of world's longest flight, surpassing Singapore Airlines' current record-holder from Singapore to New York JFK, which covers 9,537 miles in about 18 hours and 50 minutes. The Sydney-London route will stretch over 10,500 miles and could take up to 20 hours. It's either the future of air travel or absolute madness - I'm genuinely not sure which. Worth The Premium? 11 A look at what the First class suites might look like 11 The business suites onboard the airline's new planes Qantas says Sydney-London passengers will pay an estimated 20% premium over connecting flights, but the airline has said that early feedback suggests people are willing to cough up the extra cash to avoid stopovers. That 20% price hike is the big question. On a £800 return ticket to Australia, you're looking at an extra £160 to fly direct. For many, that's a small price to pay to avoid the hassle of connections, especially if you're traveling with kids or lots of luggage. The maths gets even more compelling when you factor in potential hotel costs during long layovers, airport food, and the sheer exhaustion of navigating multiple airports. Plus, with the new cabin features like free Wi-Fi, you're getting some of the premium economy experience at economy prices. Business travellers will likely snap up the direct option without thinking twice. For leisure travellers, it depends whether you value the time and convenience over saving a few quid. My Verdict Seven years ago, I would have told anyone considering the Perth-London route to book a connection instead. The cramped conditions, lack of amenities, and general misery made it feel like paying extra to be tortured. But these new A350s sound like a completely different proposition. Wider seats than even the A380 which operates on stopover routes, WiFi, and space to move around could actually make 17+ hours in economy bearable - maybe even preferable to the hassle of connections. I'm genuinely tempted to give it another go when the new planes start flying. That's something I never thought I'd say after my inaugural flight experience. The real test will be whether Qantas can deliver on these promises. Airlines are great at talking up new cabins, but the proof will be in the flying. If they get it right, they might just have revolutionised ultra-long-haul travel. If they don't, well, at least Singapore and Dubai have the world's best airports for stopovers.
Scottish Sun
09-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Airlines are scrapping economy seats to fit more ‘expensive' passengers onboard and it's bad news for your cheap flights
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AIRLINES are scrapping some of their economy seats to make room - for more expensive ones on their planes. Air France's new La Premiere cabin recently launched onboard, but costs $11,000 (£8,288.87) to travel between Paris and New York, America. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Air France is spending million on fitting out it's planes Credit: Air France 4 This includes the 38-square-foot La Premiere cabin Credit: Air France Yet, there are passengers that are willing to pay this. The La Premiere cabin is part of Air Frances $550million (£414.4million) investment to upgrade existing planes and lounges and push to attract higher spending travellers. But they aren't the only airline doing this, reports the WSJ. Airlines across the planet are racing to build the most exclusive and high-end cabins available on the market, for passengers who are willing to pay the top dollar. This includes upgrading soft amenities, such as caviar and champagne, teaming up with designers to provide custom pajamas and partnering with Michelin star chefs to upgrade menu offerings. The push is partially as a result of business passengers not returning to pre-COVID levels and therefore airlines are looking for ways to increase their profits. This is because economy seats are there to subsidise the cost of flying, whereas premier seats and cabins are there to make the airline money. Essentially, airlines can charge more for business and first class seats, making them more profitable. But all of this depends on the amount of money regular leisure passengers are willing to spend. For example, a regular economy seat can cost under $1,000 (£753.53), for a return flight between Paris and New York. Qantas reveal Project Sunrise A350 This then doubles to $2,000 (£1,507.07) for a premium economy seat. But the jump to a La Premiere cabin, for instance, goes up to $11,000 (£8,288.87). Cabins are more private and do have more space - La Premiere cabins span 38-square-foot and have five windows each. In comparison some Emirates first-class cabins span 40-square-feet and some Singapore Airlines cabins sprawl across 50-square-feet. For the ultimate luxury and space, Etihad even has a 125-square-foot residence. Yet despite this, it remains unclear whether leisure passengers spending more money on these seats will actually last. 4 Many airlines are looking to upgrade their more premium offerings Credit: Air France With the waitlist for planes and components being long, airlines have to commit to seat layout far in advance. This means airlines need to work out demand for more expensive seats. This may include looking at specific routes, to see whether people spend more money on one route over another and consequently there is higher demand for more premium seats. Then airlines can assess whether to get rid of economy seats to make room for more premium seats. If the number of economy seats were reduced, it could cause them to become more expensive as demand may also increase for these seats. Airbus also recently revealed potentially the poshest plane seat in the world. Plus, The Sun tried out British Airways' new First Class seat.
The Irish Sun
09-05-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Airlines are scrapping economy seats to fit more ‘expensive' passengers onboard and it's bad news for your cheap flights
AIRLINES are scrapping some of their economy seats to make room - for more expensive ones on their planes. Air France 's new La Premiere cabin recently launched onboard, but costs $11,000 (£8,288.87) to travel between Paris and New York, America. Advertisement 4 Air France is spending million on fitting out it's planes Credit: Air France 4 This includes the 38-square-foot La Premiere cabin Credit: Air France Yet, there are passengers that are willing to pay this. The La Premiere cabin is part of Air Frances $550million (£414.4million) investment to upgrade existing planes and lounges and push to attract higher spending travellers. But they aren't the only airline doing this, reports the Airlines across the planet are racing to build the most exclusive and high-end cabins available on the market, for passengers who are willing to pay the top dollar. Advertisement Read more on flights This includes upgrading soft amenities, such as caviar and champagne, teaming up with designers to provide custom pajamas and partnering with Michelin star chefs to upgrade menu offerings. The push is partially as a result of business passengers not returning to pre-COVID levels and therefore airlines are looking for ways to increase their profits. This is because economy seats are there to subsidise the cost of flying, whereas premier seats and cabins are there to make the airline money. Essentially, airlines can charge more for business and Advertisement Most read in News Travel But all of this depends on the amount of money regular leisure passengers are willing to spend. For example, a regular economy seat can cost under $1,000 (£753.53), for a return flight between Qantas reveal Project Sunrise A350 This then doubles to $2,000 (£1,507.07) for a But the jump to a La Premiere cabin, for instance, goes up to $11,000 (£8,288.87). Advertisement Cabins are more private and do have more space - La Premiere cabins span 38-square-foot and have five windows each. In comparison some For the ultimate luxury and space, Yet despite this, it remains unclear whether leisure passengers spending more money on these seats will actually last. Advertisement 4 Many airlines are looking to upgrade their more premium offerings Credit: Air France With the waitlist for planes and components being long, airlines have to commit to seat layout far in advance. This means This may include looking at specific routes, to see whether people spend more money on one route over another and consequently there is higher demand for more premium seats. Advertisement Then airlines can assess whether to get rid of economy seats to make room for more premium seats. If the number of economy seats were reduced, it could cause them to become more expensive as demand may also increase for these seats. Airbus also recently Plus, Advertisement 4 This could mean less economy seats Credit: Getty
