Prototypes of the first and business cabins on Qantas aircraft that will fly non-stop from Australia to London and New York from late 2025 have been unveiled.
Its 12 Airbus A350s will be configured to seat 238 passengers to provide more space compared to the 300-plus capacity specified by other carriers.
The aircraft will have six first suites in a 1-1-1 configuration and 52 Business Suites in a 1-2-1 configuration.
They will also feature a wellbeing zone for all passengers, which will be unveiled alongside the 40 premium economy seats and 140-capacity economy cabin in the coming months, according to the carrier.
Qantas claimed features making up the spacious first class suite will make passengers feel like they are in a “mini boutique hotel room” complete with an extra-wide fixed bed, separate recliner chair, personal wardrobe, dining table for two and a 32” ultra-high definition TV.
All business suites will have direct aisle access with sliding doors for privacy, a two metre flat bed, generous storage, a cushioned leather ottoman, 18” ultra-high definition touch screen TV, large dining table and feature lighting.
The A350s will offer fast and free high-speed Wi-Fi with partner Viasat following completion of key satellite launches covering the Qantas international network.
The aircraft will also feature Bluetooth connectivity allowing all passengers to connect their own headsets to the in-flight entertainment system.
The details emerged as Qantas revealed it had returned to the black after three years of losses by reporting a pre-tax profit of A$1.43 billion in the first half of its current financial year to December 31, 2022.
The result was 49% higher than the last equivalent first half record result in 2018-19.
The recovery was attributed to “consistently strong travel demand” matched by higher yields and a focus on costs.
Average fares remain above pre-Covid levels in Australia and all major markets due to a 65% hike in the price of fuel, a capacity squeeze by all airlines due to supply chain issues and high levels of demand as people prioritise travel.
Qantas Group chief executive Alan Joyce said: “This is a huge turnaround considering the massive losses we were facing just 12 months ago.
“When we restructured the business at the start of Covid, it was to make sure we could bounce back quickly when travel returned.
“That’s effectively what’s happened, but it’s the strength of the demand that has driven such a strong result.
“Fares have risen because of higher fuel costs, but also because supply chain and resourcing issues meant capacity hasn’t kept up with demand.
“Now those challenges are starting to unwind, we can add more capacity and that will put downward pressure on fares.
“Returning to profit means we can get back to reinvesting for our customers, which is clear from the network, fleet and lounge announcements we’ve made, and from the Project Sunrise cabins we’re previewing.”
Unveiling the ultra-long haul cabin design, Joyce said: “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.
“We’re building on the customer experience of our extremely popular non-stop flights from Perth to London as we keep working to make it easier to connect Australia with the rest of the world.”