Plan to launch 20-hour flights is back – In two years, the A350 will cover 17.000 km in a single trip!

Back in 2017, the idea of operating the world’s longest route took flight (pun intended) as part of the ambitious “Project Sunrise”, described by Qantas Airways, the Australian carrier, as the “ultimate frontier of aviation”. Back then, their plan was to use the Airbus A350-1000s, hailed by the airline as the finest long-range aircraft available.

Even though the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic ended up putting this bold strategy on hold, Qantas is now making a comeback with the same A350-1000 aircraft. These machines boast an impressive range of over 16.000 kilometers, and while they can typically accommodate up to 410 passengers onboard, as part of the “Project Sunrise” concept, they will only carry 238 individuals across four different classes: 6 seats in first class, 52 in business class, 40 in premium economy (in a 2-4-2 configuration) and 140 in economy (in a 3-3-3 seating layout).

Passengers embarking on this nearly 24-hour journey will have the unique opportunity to witness two sunrises, as the flight will cross multiple time zones. Qantas has not yet disclosed the ticket prices for these flights, though they will certainly turn out to be more expensive than initially expected in 2017, considering the circumstances and events the market has witnessed over the past few years.

It’s worth noting that the Australian carrier is renowned for its ultra-long-haul routes. Since March 2018, they have been operating non-stop flights from Perth to London, covering a distance of almost 14.500 kilometers in just over 17 hours. For this particular route, one-way economy class fares start at 1.159$.