QANTAS: New Business, First Class and WiFi on A350 Project Sunrise planes

Finally, WiFi on Qantas international planes!

Qantas has made a number of announcements today regarding the A350 fleet which will become its leading international aircraft, replacing the A380s in the next decade.

The A350s are designed for the ultra-long-haul travel routes Qantas has in mind allowing direct non-stop flights from Australia to European and American destinations on 18 to 20-hour flights. Initial destinations starting in 2025 are London, Paris, New York, Chicago and Buenos Aires.

“We think our A350 cabins have the most sophisticated and thoughtful design of any airline, combining cutting edge technology with sleep research to shape the look and feel for what is effectively a new era of travel.

Alan Joyce CEO Qantas

What we already knew

Qantas released details and renders of its proposed A350 First Class product some time ago, which I’ve covered before, but now we have some more detail on the new Business Class product, and by some interpretation of the video rendering and information provided in the media release, we can cobble together some other facts and factoids.

To start, view the Qantas-produced video below:

Aircraft Configuration

The 12 Airbus A350s that Qantas is ordering for Project Sunrise and flying in 2025 will comprise a total of 238 seats, which is about 60 less than many other carriers, filling their cabins with 300 or so seats.

While the six new First Class Suites will run 1-1-1 across the first 2 rows of the aircraft, the Business Class cabin comprises 52 staggered seats with doors, configured in a 1-2-1 format.

The rest of the 174 seats will run across Premium Economy and Economy, in a configuration that is yet to be confirmed but will more than likely run 2-4-2 over 5 rows in premium (40 seats), with the remaining 134 economy seats in a 3-3-3 format.

Qantas International all classes get free WiFi on the A350

About time! While Qantas has WiFi endemic to its domestic fleet, it has been slooooow to adopt it on international routes. This will change with the advent of these new ultra-long-haul aircraft, using Viasat, once a few more satellites are launched, where WiFi will be free to all classes of cabins across the aircraft.

Congratulations on that Qantas. Let’s just hope that it is fast as well and that not too many passengers choose to conduct their facetime calls without headphones or earpods on the flight! One of my pet peeves.

New Premium cabin facilities on the A350

We also today learn a little about what other facilities will be available on these planes.

First Class Suites

Using a boutique hotel room as inspiration David Caon has designed a suite with a door, a wide bed and separate recliner chair, wardrobe, and dining table which will accommodate two people with one using the ottoman/footrest (contrary to my previous assertion) and a 32″ screen. Expect several options for wireless induction device charging too

Business Class ‘Suites’

All business suites will have direct aisle access via a sliding door, two metre flat beds, storage and mirror, an ottoman, 18″ TV, a dining table and various functional and feature lighting. Business also gets a number of options for wireless charging of devices.

The images supplied by Qantas all concentrate on what is happening in the window adjacent seats. We have no renderings of how the pairs of middle seats will work – although there is a slight view of these in the rendered video, suggesting that they are not staggered, but with two together in the middle, and two aisles adjacent.

More Tech – Bluetooth

Qantas is also promising across the aircraft, passengers will have access to Bluetooth to run their own headsets, to link to the in-flight entertainment system.

First and Business will also offer multiple personal devices charging options including wireless induction charging.

The Qantas A350 will offer fast and free high-speed Wi-Fi with partner Viasat following the completion of key satellite launches covering the Qantas international network.

“Every element has been created for Qantas, from the reading light right down to the fabrics, to ensure that passengers spend their journey in refined comfort. There are also a number of storage design elements to keep personal items within arm’s reach so the space can be personalised by each individual passenger to feel just like they are in their own bed at home.”

David Caon – Industrial Designer

More to Come

Qantas has yet to reveal any developments or design in its Premium Economy and Economy sections of the plane, although we do know that there will be a ‘Wellbing Zone’ with details yet to be revealed, but is promised in the coming months.

2PAXfly Takeout

My initial reaction is – not a lot to see here. This looks far from the innovation boast of CEO Alan Joyce. It looks more like a catch-up, with enclosed suites with doors, wifi and induction charging across premium cabins. Large and long beds are standard in many airlines’ premium products, and the separate chair and bed has been adopted a decade ago by airlines from Lufthansa to Singapore airlines.

Having said that, these cabins look good, although the real test will not be in the renderings but in actuality. As one commentator said on another site, ‘… it’s difficult to tell the quality of the finishes from the renderings.’

There are, however a few things that look a little janky in the flythrough. Those tray tables in particular. It might just be a consequence of the crudeness of the renderings, but they seem a little inelegant, particularly those in the Business Suites. Maybe I’m asking too much to have an ‘elegant’ tray table mechanical action!

Colour

Do I like what is portrayed in the renderings? Yes, albeit they are almost terribly neutral. Enough to cause neutral or écrue poisoning? Maybe. To me the cabins just cry out for a feature colour – maybe Qantas corporate red? It is World Pride here in Sydney so possibly I am suffering from rainbow and glitter overload.

Verdict

Do these cabins look inviting? Yes, they do. I like the ‘wood’ panelling, and the doors, although I suspect that those footwells in Business are going to be frightfully confining – but maybe I’m wrong. Chiefly, I like the wifi and recharging. Doors – I quite liked to airiness and openness of the old first cabins. They delivered privacy without enclosure.

Finally, only six First Class suites instead of 14 on the A380 is going to make the odds of scoring a Reward Seat or upgrade much much more difficult.