Qantas has a couple of dozen Airbus A350s on order, which will be used to operate the world’s longest nonstop flights, like Sydney to New York. There’s a lot to be excited about with these aircraft, but we’ll have to be patient.
While these planes were first supposed to enter service in 2025, we’ve just learned that they’ve been delayed by around six months, until mid-2026, due to manufacturing delays. So let’s go over all the details of what we can expect with this addition to Qantas’ fleet.
In this post:
Qantas has 24 Airbus A350-1000s on order
Qantas has a total of 24 Airbus A350-1000s on order:
- Qantas ordered 12 of these jets in mid-2022
- Qantas ordered an additional 12 of these jets in mid-2023
We can now expect the first A350 to be delivered to Qantas in mid-2026, though I imagine that timeline has the potential to slip even further, given how all the supply chain issues that airlines deal with nowadays.
The A350-1000 is the largest variant of the A350 family, and the plane has incredible economics and range. Qantas will be taking those capabilities to the next level.
The airline is taking advantage of all the incremental improvements that have been made to this aircraft over the years, including a higher maximum takeoff weight, which also allows the aircraft to carry more fuel. Qantas’ A350s will also feature additional fuel tanks, to take advantage of that higher takeoff weight. Furthermore, thanks to Qantas’ premium heavy configuration, the airline will be keeping the weight of the plane down, further maximizing range.
Qantas will use A350s for Project Sunrise flights
For years, Qantas has been working on what it calls “Project Sunrise,” which is the goal of operating nonstop flights from Sydney and Melbourne to New York and London. These flights will all be 10,000+ miles, could take 20+ hours, and will be the world’s longest flights. They’ll represent a huge reduction in travel time for these markets, and will likely be popular, especially with premium travelers.
Qantas initially just ordered 12 A350s, which would have covered the carrier’s needs for these flights. However, Qantas eventually doubled its order, so you can expect A350s to also be used for other premium, ultra long haul flights.
So don’t be surprised to see Qantas fly A350s in some other existing markets (like Sydney to Los Angeles, especially when A380s eventually retire), as well as to some possible new markets that wouldn’t otherwise be possible (like Sydney to Paris).
Qantas Airbus A350-1000 passenger experience
Qantas’ A350-1000s will be specially configured for long haul flying, and will be in a very spacious configuration:
- Qantas’ A350-1000s will carry just 238 passengers, which is way fewer seats than you’ll find on most carriers’ A350s
- The planes will feature four classes of service, including six first class seats, 52 business class seats, 40 premium economy seats, and 140 economy seats
- Economy will feature 33″ of pitch, which is incredibly generous, and much more spacious than what you’d typically find in economy (where 31″ is the standard for long haul flights)
- Qantas will be introducing a new first class suite and business class seat with a door on A350-1000s
- Qantas A350-1000s will feature a dedicated wellness zone
- Qantas A350-1000s will feature fast and free Wi-Fi, in partnership with Viasat
I’ll talk more about the cabin interiors in a separate post, because there’s lots to cover.
Bottom line
Qantas has a total of 24 Airbus A350-1000s on order, which will now be delivered in mid-2026 (rather than late 2025). This is an exciting new aircraft for Qantas, as it will be used for Project Sunrise flights, directly connecting Sydney and Melbourne to New York and London.
Qantas’ A350s will be in a super premium configuration, with just 234 seats. You can expect new products across all cabins, a wellness zone, and even fast and free Wi-Fi. I’m excited to see these planes in service, though unfortunately we’ll have to continue to be patient…
What do you make of Qantas’ Airbus A350 & Project Sunrise plans?
The issue appears to be (European aviation regulator) concerns about the center fuel tank on the longest range versions of the A350-1000 so Airbus is redesigning it.
EASA expressed similar concerns about the A321XLR's fuselage wall tanks so Airbus is apparently pushing fuel storage beyond what EASA is comfortable with).
The plane will still be a beast of a performer and the increased takeoff weight will still be available for other operators
6 months delay is nothing and reasonable. Meanwhile the Trent 97 engines are also being slowly modified and upgraded to increase wing time. It is all going to come together nicely,
Lufthansa and Qantas have been playing you all for years. It's a massive energy grab.
Omg. That first class looks amazing. As a dual national of the uk and Australia I’d better get saving.
2 inches is incredibly generous on certain things but going from 31 to 33 in seat pitch is not incredibly generous.
The first class looks beautiful. Probably all here couldn’t justify paying for first class if business class has a bed and a door. I guess Qantas is offering this as a replacement for private jet travel.
I like that Singapore only has PE on the NY route. It would make sense here.
I agree, 33 inches is decent seat pitch, but it's not where it needs to be when factoring in 20-21 hours bum in seat (boarding, flight time, deplaning) and then coping with passengers reclining into your space and also factoring in how big and broad shouldered many of us Aussies are. With the 3-3-3 basically you are flying with the equivalent space of a Toyota Corolla backseat. PE will be tolerable, but Econ will be...
I agree, 33 inches is decent seat pitch, but it's not where it needs to be when factoring in 20-21 hours bum in seat (boarding, flight time, deplaning) and then coping with passengers reclining into your space and also factoring in how big and broad shouldered many of us Aussies are. With the 3-3-3 basically you are flying with the equivalent space of a Toyota Corolla backseat. PE will be tolerable, but Econ will be tricky. Thankfully the stretching area should break things up for the non-flat bed pax who can make use of it. I would not count on ever having a seat free next to you.
Economy should be illegal over a set amount of hours. At least in a Toyota you can stop the car and get out ;-)
2026 or 2036? Holding my breath.
2046, after the Phoenix has departed.
Airbus still hasn't released final specs as to what this aircraft will offer.
Will be very interesting to see what it is, and can do, once build starts.
When did they first start talking about project sunrise. By the time we see it I think they will probably have dragged a decade of free marketing out of this by making progress announcements every 6months or so
Nice one. You are awake!!
Why are you acting like it's some kind of conspiracy?
The aircraft are ordered and in queue, the routes have been applied for, with granting being a formality since most of them conform to open-skies bilaterals.
There's not much else the airline can do to bring it to fruition any faster.
Is it confirmed that all 24 will have the same config?
The later batch of 12 non ULR 35Ks will have same seats but a more economical configuration for A380/A330 replacement. No first class though.
Additionally, only the first 12 ordered will have the optional customised centre-fuel tank. These are generically being referred to as A350-1000ULR models. This is the model for the true 'Sunrise' project.
The second tranche of 12 (planned delivery from 2027 onwards) will not have the centre-tank. These are the standard A350-1000 units, which will ultimately begin to replace the A380-800's, when they start to leave the fleet circa mid 2030's.
It remains to be seen...
Additionally, only the first 12 ordered will have the optional customised centre-fuel tank. These are generically being referred to as A350-1000ULR models. This is the model for the true 'Sunrise' project.
The second tranche of 12 (planned delivery from 2027 onwards) will not have the centre-tank. These are the standard A350-1000 units, which will ultimately begin to replace the A380-800's, when they start to leave the fleet circa mid 2030's.
It remains to be seen how many additional -1000ULR and -1000 models are ordered. Non-stops from SYD / MEL to destinations such as GIG (Rio de Janeiro), CPT (Capetown) would depend on the success of Project Sunrise and would demand the additional tank.
Perth (PER) on the West Coast serves PER-LHR nonstop on the B787=9 currently. The PER-CDG service will undoubtedly be a B787-9 route. However, the LHR route is rumoured to be replaced with an A350-1000 at some stage.
If served non-stop from SYD or MEL, both LHR and CDG would require the 350-1000ULR version.
Frankfurt (FRA) could potentially be served by the base model A350-1000, from SYD, MEL and PER.
No doubt that with these announced supply chain delays, there will be negotiated 'delayed delivery' payments to QF, which will undoubtedly be appreciated.
It’s interesting to see that JAL puts 239 seats on its a350-1000 with quite similar config (2more business, 16 fewer premium economy, 15 more economy).
The renderings of the new Qantas A350-1000 first class and business class seats look awfully similar to those of the new JAL A35K. The finishes are obviously different, but many aspects of those F and J products look exactly alike.
I really enjoyed QF F on the A380, and I will miss it when they retire those planes.
In Vegas, they're taking odds that Qantas' Project Sunrise rolls out before Lufthansa installs new business class seats.
You'll lose money betting on certainties.