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QANTAS’ NEW YORK TO SYDNEY NON-STOP RESEARCH FLIGHT SET FOR TAKE-OFF

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Qantas’ first Project Sunrise (opens in new window) research flight is set to take off from New York to Sydney this evening. 

Qantas Flight 7879, with 50 passengers and crew on board, will depart New York’s John F Kennedy Airport at 9pm New York as the first commercial airline to fly non-stop between New York and Sydney.

The 787-9 aircraft has been positioned to New York after being delivered from the Boeing factory in Seattle. After the research flight is complete, it will enter normal commercial service with Qantas. 

The purpose of the record-breaking flight is to conduct scientific research on passengers and crew on an ultra-long haul flight, with the aim of increasing health and wellness, minimising jetlag and identifying optimum crew rest and work periods.

It is part of Qantas’ ongoing quest to launch commercial flights between the east coast of Australia (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) and New York and London. The direct flights would save passengers up to four hours in total travel time and follow the successful Perth-London route, which started in March 2018 and is the only direct link between Australia and Europe.

Qantas Unveils Limited Edition Scarf ..!!(Opens in a new browser tab)

 

While not designed for the 16,200 kilometre (10,200 mile) journey from New York to Sydney, the 787-9 being used for today’s research flight will take off with maximum fuel and a restricted passenger and baggage load (and no cargo) to allow the aircraft to operate the flight non-stop. All carbon emissions from this flight, and two additional research flights from New York and London to Sydney in November and December, will be offset. 

Airbus and Boeing have pitched aircraft (the A350 and 777X respectively) with the range to operate Project Sunrise flights on a commercial basis. These pitches, together with findings from the research flights and other streams of work, will form part of a business case being developed by Qantas to inform a final yes/no decision on Project Sunrise expected by the end of this year. If approved, flights would start in 2022/23.    

Qantas has named its endeavor “Project Sunrise” after the airline’s historic ‘Double Sunrise’ endurance flights during the Second World War, which remained airborne long enough to see two sunrises.

 

Aviation

COMAC Secures $1.5B Regional Jets Order Deal with Hainan Airlines

COMAC Secures $1.5B Regional Jets Order Deal with Hainan Airlines
  1. In a move to strengthen its fleet and boost regional service, Hainan Airlines Holding Co. announced plans to acquire 40 ARJ21-700 jets from China’s state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC). As reported by Bloomberg.
  2. The total deal, valued at up to $1.52 billion, highlights Hainan Airlines’ commitment to expanding its domestic reach with locally manufactured aircraft. The low-cost carrier Urumqi Air, part of Hainan’s group, will operate these jets under the deal, which outlines the delivery of aircraft in batches starting in 2025 and concluding by 2032.
  3. Air China to Launch COMAC’s C929 in a Bid to Rival Boeing and Airbus
  4. The ARJ21-700, China’s first independently developed regional jet, is designed for short- to medium-haul routes, making it a strategic fit for Urumqi Air’s service network. This regional jet features a seating configuration of 78 to 97 passengers, comac c919 price along with a range of 2,225 to 3,700 kilometers—ideal for connecting smaller cities across China.
  5. With this acquisition, Urumqi Air aims to further bolster regional connectivity, meeting the growing demand for efficient, economical travel options.In line with COMAC’s established naming conventions seen with the C919 narrowbody and the upcoming C929 widebody aircraft, the ARJ21-700’s designation emphasizes COMAC’s expanding product lineup.
  6. Notably, in mid-October 2024, this updated jet model name was spotted on aircraft at Shanghai Pudong Airport, stirring anticipation about COMAC’s future plans.

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