Qantas will use Airbus A350-1000 for its project sunrise. The airline chose A350-1000 after detailed research. However, both Boeing and Airbus tried different variants of B777X and A350 respectively to operate flights within the range as required by Qantas. Qantas challenged them to bring an aircraft that will operate non-stop ultra-long-haul flights like Melbourne to New York, etc.
What is Project Sunrise?
Project Sunrise is Qantas’ research project in which the airline aims to operate direct flights from the east coast of Australia to New York, Paris, and London. However, the airline will operate nineteen-hour flights from Melbourne, Marathon, and Sydney reaching directly to their destinations without any stay. Also, Qantas has decided to utilize A350-1000 aircraft on these ultra-long-haul flights.
The reason behind choosing A350-1000
An A350-1000 aircraft can carry 369 passengers with a range of 8700 nm / 16,100 km. Qantas wanted an aircraft that could operate directly on ultra-long-haul flights with a full payload. So, Airbus came up with its A350 variant A350-1000.
Qantas in a press conference quoted “This aircraft uses the Rolls Royce Trent XWB engine, which has a strong reliability record after being in service with airlines for more than two years. Airbus will add fuel tank and slightly increase the maximum takeoff weight to deliver the performance required for Sunrise routes.”
The A350-1000 aircraft is capable of serving on long-haul routes and also will be a good option for those airlines who are still using A330. Moreover, the Qantas would be able to use the A30-1000 on its other long-haul courses as well.
Covid-19 Impact on Project Sunrise
Due to the pandemic, the Airline suffered a loss of $1.9 billion. Besides that, during the initial half of the year, Qantas encountered a ninety-one percent drop in profit contrasted with a similar period in 2019. Subsequently, their fleet of Boeing 747s has been retired a half year early. they’re on target to decrease their labor by 20% of the whole organization.
CEO of Qantas, Alan Joyce said “That’s the sad reality of what the pandemic means for airlines, far fewer employees, at least for a while. Some carriers are shrinking their workforce by 30, 40 percent. Some may not survive at all.”
Future Planning for Project Sunrise
Qantas is planning to start project sunrise services in 2024. However, the CEO of the airline Alan Joyce spilled the beans that the airline will place the order for A350-1000 aircraft by the end of 2021.
Currently, antidotes for the infection are conveyed throughout the world. Qantas has stated that antidotes will play a major role in the re-opening of air travel, strongly supporting the “no jab, no-fly” condition.
Joyce is confident that the project sunrise will bring comfort to passengers that travel 18-20 hours long flights. However, Qantas aims to provide the passengers with a controlled, clean and peaceful environment without any stay halfway through their flight.
Featured Image: Aerospace Technology
Written by guest writer, Faisal Bashir
