Qantas is adding amenities and a wellness center to keep passengers comfortable and healthy on its new Airbus A350-1000ULR, an aircraft that will fly for up to 22 continuous hours as it links the east coast of Australia to destinations in North America and Europe.
The carrier on Thursday detailed for the first time the cabin layout for the -1000ULR and shared renderings of what the interior will look like when it enters commercial service next year.
Notably, the airplane will have only 238 passenger seats, the lowest seat density of any A350 variant. There will be six premium First suites in a 1-1-1 configuration, 52 business-class suites in a 1-2-1 configuration, 40 premium economy seats in a 2-4-2 configuration, and 140 economy seats configured 3-3-3.
First suites come with an 80-inch flat bed, a separate reclining armchair, work and dining space for one or two people, a full-length wardrobe, multiple storage areas, and lighting synced to customers’ circadian rhythm.
Business suites also include an 80-inch flat bed, as well as a dining table and work surface.
Other amenities, including multi-layered memory foam seat cushions, ergonomic lighting, wireless internet service, and entertainment systems, are being made available across all cabins.
Loaded on each seatback screen is a “journey planner,” which shows when meals are served and when the cabin dims for rest. Qantas said the tool will help passengers arrange their time on ultra-long-haul flights.
A “Wellbeing Zone,” set up between the premium economy and economy cabins, will feature sculpted wall panels and mounted stretch handles for exercise, plus screens for a “guided movement program” and a “hydration station.” The space will be the first on any airline dedicated solely to passenger wellbeing, officials said.
The airline did not say how large the Wellbeing Zone will be, or how many passengers will be able to use it at one time.
The A350-1000ULR is being built custom for Qantas as part of “Project Sunrise,” the carrier’s yearslong plan to serve destinations such as London and New York nonstop from Australia’s east coast. The first two -1000ULRs are currently undergoing testing in France.
Earlier this week, Qantas announced that London will be the first Project Sunrise destination, with flights from Sydney starting in October 2027.
