Flying between New York and Australia is about to get a whole lot nicer.
As part of Qantas’ “Project Sunrise” initiative offering more direct routes to and from Australia, the airline is rolling out specially modified Airbus A350 jets with enhanced luxury cabins.
This includes refreshed first, business, premium economy, and regular coach classes, with nearly 100 of those being lucrative premium seating — something airlines have aggressively leaned into as people remain willing to pay up for nicer flying experiences.
At an event in New York City on Tuesday, I got a sneak peek at what the new business-class seats will look like. Qantas said the cabins are expected to launch between Sydney and London in October 2027, followed by flights between Sydney and New York in mid-2028.
Once launched, the roughly 10,000-mile treks would become the world’s new longest flights, flying up to 22 hours and dethroning Singapore Airlines’ route between Singapore and New York.
But they won’t be cheap: flyers will likely pay a premium for tickets because of the plane’s lower capacity, higher fuel and crew expenses, and its exclusivity on the nonstop routes. Qantas’ current one-stop business-class flights from New York to Sydney, stopping in Auckland, cost up to $13,000 round-trip in mid-November.
Here are the coolest perks to expect in Qantas’ new A350 business class.
Sliding doors
Sliding privacy panels are a first for business class on Qantas. The retractable doors measure nearly 4 feet high and create an enclosed suite measuring 3.5 feet wide.
Doors have become standard in business class as global airlines continue to capitalize on premium offerings. Qantas also plans to add the feature to future Boeing 787s and Airbus A321XLRs.
Upgraded technology
In addition to power outlets and USB-A and C charging ports, the new seats feature wireless charging.
The in-flight entertainment screen has also been expanded to 18 inches — 2 inches larger than systems on Qantas’ A380s and 787s.
Memory-foam mattresses and fancy amenity kits
Michelle Luk, senior manager of product and service strategy at Qantas, invited me to try a sample mattress, which is an additional layer placed over the lie-flat seat. I could certainly see the plush topper making an 18-hour flight more comfortable.
“We’re still undergoing a lot of customer trials, but so far the feedback has been incredibly positive,” Luk told Business Insider. “I think that’s been the biggest hit for sure.”
Flyers will also get an amenity kit. The current business class kit includes Grown Alchemist creams and lip balm, a pajama set, toothbrush and toothpaste, socks, earplugs, headphones, and an eye mask.
Science-backed designs to reduce jetlag
As part of the decadelong development of Project Sunrise, Qantas partnered with the Charles Perkins Centre, a medical research institute at the University of Sydney, to study the effects of long-haul flights on travelers.
Passengers on Project Sunrise test flights have volunteered as research subjects, wearing heart-rate and sleep sensors and undergoing testing to help shape evidence-based cabin optimizations that reduce jet lag.
One of these new health-focused features is the “Wellbeing Zone,” an area that offers refreshments, guided-stretch videos, and extra space to move around. Located between premium economy and economy, it will be available to passengers in all classes.
Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson told Business Insider that these enhancements have proven “statistically significant” in reducing the effects of jet lag.
“The way we’ve designed the lighting, the Wellbeing Zones, the way we design the food, is all around making sure that when you do arrive after the long flight, you feel as fresh as you possibly can,” Hudson said.
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