Qantas has revealed the next evolution in cabin design for its highly anticipated Project Sunrise aircraft, the Airbus A350-1000ULR. Set to launch from October 2027, Project Sunrise will introduce the world’s first non-stop services between Sydney and London, redefining the future of ultra long-haul travel.
Designed to make long-distance flying more comfortable, spacious and restorative, the Qantas A350-1000ULR has been configured with just 238 seats. This will give the aircraft the lowest seat density of any A350 in the world, allowing more space for every passenger on board.
Every detail of the aircraft has been carefully considered to help travellers arrive at their destination feeling their best. Drawing on more than a decade of research with the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre, along with close collaboration with Caon Design Office and key technology partners, Qantas has designed an onboard experience centred around rest, wellbeing and comfort.
From seating and lighting to dining, inflight entertainment and dedicated movement areas, every element of the A350-1000ULR has been designed to work together. The result is a cabin experience created specifically for some of the longest commercial flights in the world.
First Class: Private Suites Designed for Ultimate Comfort
The Project Sunrise A350-1000ULR will feature six enclosed First suites in a spacious 1-1-1 configuration.
Each suite has been designed using the latest ergonomic research and innovations to deliver an elevated long-haul experience. Passengers will enjoy an 80-inch flat bed, a separate reclining armchair, and a generous work and dining space suitable for one or two people.
The First suites will also include a full-length wardrobe and multiple personal storage areas, giving travellers plenty of room to settle in and enjoy the journey.
To enhance comfort further, the new First suites have undergone months of testing to map pressure points, resulting in a multi-layer memory foam mattress engineered for optimal pressure distribution. Lighting within each suite can also be programmed to support a passenger’s circadian rhythm, helping the body adjust throughout the flight.
For a seamless balance of privacy and service, each suite will feature a digital exterior panel, allowing passengers to discreetly communicate with crew during the journey.
Business Class: Privacy, Space and Flexible Dining
The 52 Business suites will be arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, giving every passenger direct aisle access.
For the first time, Qantas Business suites will feature sliding doors for additional privacy, along with an adjustable divider between alternating centre seats. Each suite will include an 80-inch flat bed, a large dining table and work surface, and increased personal storage.
Flexible dining is also being planned for Business Class, giving passengers the option to time their meals with scientifically optimised windows. This aligns with the circadian research that has helped shape the entire Project Sunrise cabin experience.
Lighting will also play an important role, with luminescent cabin lighting designed to dim at optimised intervals and gently ease passengers towards sleep.
Premium Economy: Reimagined for Ultra Long-Haul Flying
The 40-seat Premium Economy cabin will be arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration and has been redesigned from the ground up for ultra long-haul travel.
Every seat will feature an ergonomic leg and calf rest system, providing full leg cradling for greater comfort. Passengers can also expect an eight-inch winged privacy headrest, dedicated amenity and personal storage pockets, and what will be the most generous seat pitch of any Qantas aircraft.
A custom multi-layer memory foam system has been developed specifically for the Premium Economy cabin. Tested across ergonomic modelling, lumbar support and pressure mapping, the seat design has been created to provide greater comfort during extended periods in the air.
Economy and Economy Plus: More Comfort for Long-Haul Travellers
The Economy cabin will feature 140 seats in a 3-3-3 configuration, offering more generous seat pitch overall than any current Qantas aircraft.
The new Economy seat will also include a custom-designed multi-layer memory foam system, tested using the same process as Premium Economy. Woven wool upholstery in an earthy Australian ‘Pilbara Red’ has been selected to improve breathability and temperature regulation on long-haul journeys.
Travellers will also have the option to enhance their Economy experience with Qantas Economy Plus. Positioned at the front of the A350-1000ULR cabin, the 42 Economy Plus seats will offer a 34-inch pitch, priority boarding and priority access to overhead baggage space.
More than 70 per cent of seats on board the aircraft will offer a pitch of 33 inches or more, making this the most generous seating layout of any Qantas aircraft.
Across all cabins, passengers will also have the option to pre-select meals before they fly.
A World-First Inflight Wellbeing Zone
One of the most exciting features of the Project Sunrise aircraft is the purpose-built inflight Wellbeing Zone.
Qantas will be the first airline in the world to introduce a dedicated space of this kind, located between the Premium Economy and Economy cabins.
Designed by Caon Design Office, the Wellbeing Zone will feature sculpted wall panels and integrated stretch handles, allowing passengers to move and stretch during the flight. It will also include a guided on-screen movement program, a hydration station and a selection of premium refreshments.
This thoughtful addition reflects Qantas’ focus on passenger wellbeing during ultra long-haul travel, giving customers more ways to stay comfortable, hydrated and refreshed throughout the journey.
Next-Generation Inflight Entertainment
Qantas has also unveiled a major upgrade to its inflight entertainment system, marking the airline’s most significant entertainment enhancement in more than a decade.
Designed to feel as intuitive as the technology customers use every day, the new system will include an on-screen journey planner synced with the cabin lighting. This will show passengers when meals will be served and when the cabin will dim for rest, helping them plan their experience across the full flight.
The system will be available in 15 languages, remember viewing history, and include a ‘watch together’ feature, allowing customers to share a movie with up to three others.
Fast inflight Wi-Fi and Bluetooth pairing will also be available across all cabins.
With more space, advanced seat design, thoughtfully timed lighting and dining, next-generation inflight entertainment and a world-first Wellbeing Zone, Qantas’ Project Sunrise is set to transform the way Australians travel to the world.
