Qantas orders Airbus jets for non-stop long-haul routes
Sydney, Australia, May 2 (EFE).- Australia’s flag carrier Qantas announced on Monday it will order 12 Airbus 350-1000s for non-stop long-haul routes from Sydney to cities such as New York and London from 2025.
The planes, scheduled for delivery between 2025 and 2028 as part of a long-haul plan dubbed Project Sunrise, will have a capacity to carry 238 passengers, will be designed to enhance comfort on long-haul flights, and feature a central wellbeing zone, Qantas said in a statement.
“The A350 and Project Sunrise will make any city just one flight away from Australia. It’s the last frontier and the final fix for the tyranny of distance. As you’d expect, the cabin is being specially designed for maximum comfort in all classes for long-haul flying,” Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said in a statement.
In October 2019, Qantas completed a test of the longest non-stop commercial flight in the world, from New York to Sydney in 19 hours and 16 minutes. The route was to be commercialized this year, but was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Qantas also announced Monday the acquisition from next year of 20 Airbus A321XLRs and a further 20 A220-300s to refresh its narrow-body fleet, with the option to purchase a further 94 aircraft by 2034.
The acquisitions are part of a restructuring plan for the airline that includes scrapping old planes, improving operating costs and emissions, and providing better service to passengers.
“This order brings us closer to our commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Project Sunrise will be carbon neutral from day one,” Joyce said.
Despite the impact of the pandemic, the Qantas Group expects to achieve a net profit in the second half of 2022 of up to AU$550 million ($388 million). EFE
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