Opinion: Is Project Sunrise the dawn of a new era?

Qantas has staked a lot of money and reputation on its non-stop London and New York flights – now, as they draw closer, Jake Nelson asks: will they have the staying power the Flying Kangaroo is looking for?

What was once a gleam in Alan Joyce’s eye is now tantalisingly close, as Qantas’ first Project Sunrise flights are slated to take off for London in just over a year. The first two A350-1000ULRs specially built to make the 20-plus-hour journey have rolled off the production line, with one even flying from Toulouse to Melbourne and back and, in the process, proving it could stay in the air for more than a day without breaking a sweat.

It’s clear now that the technology to enable Project Sunrise is in good shape – but upwards of 20 hours in the sky, even with dedicated “wellbeing zones”, might be a daunting prospect for many passengers, to say nothing of the markup Qantas is likely to charge for skipping the layover. Make no mistake, Project Sunrise will be a premium product; of course, that may not necessarily be a bad thing, with RMIT Aviation Academy’s Justin Brownjohn saying the Flying Kangaroo is selling it on time and comfort.

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