Direct air service between London and Sydney.

Direct air service between London and Sydney.
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Qantas steps up preparations for direct London-Sydney service

Airline unveils its premium suites and appoints new executive to spearhead ‘Project Sunrise’.

Plans for direct air services between London and Sydney have stepped up a gear with Qantas unveiling the upgraded first and business class facilities that will be offered, and the airline bringing in a former top Air New Zealand executive to spearhead the scheme.

Project Sunrise will see the launch of the service in 2025, a 20-hour journey on Airbus A350s, complete with first-class cabins and business suites which make premium passengers feel like they are in a “mini boutique hotel”, according to the airline.

Cameron Wallace will be the new chief executive of Qantas’ international division, the former Air New Zealand executive responsible for overseeing preparations for the London-Sydney route.

First class passengers will be provided with an extra-wide fixed bed, separate recliner chair, personal wardrobe, dining table and ultra-high-definition TV; business suites will have direct aisle access with sliding doors for privacy, a two-metre flat bed, storage space and a cushioned leather ottoman, touch screen TV, dining table and feature lighting.

The 12 Airbus A350s will seat just 238 passengers: six first-class suites, 52 in Business, 40 premium economy and 140 economy seats.

It was August 1989 when Qantas first flew direct from Heathrow to Sydney – all 18,001km – but it was no commercial flight, the journey a one-off delivery of a Boeing 747-400. The galleys were stripped of non-essential equipment to reduce weight, special high-density fuel was used to increase total fuel capacity, just 23 passengers were onboard, including the crew, and the plane was towed to the runway to conserve every drop of fuel.

The journey took 20 hours and nine minutes, but it would be 29 years later that the first scheduled direct flight route opened between the UK and Perth on the west coast of Australia; the 14,500km Qantas service takes 17 hours.

Falstaff Editorial Team
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