Airlines

Qantas unveils ‘Project Sunrise’ first and business class cabins for A350s

Luxe First suites with fixed flat bed, separate lounge recliner and wardrobe.
Next Generation Business suites with sliding door for added privacy.
Fast and free Wi-Fi to be installed across A350 fleet.

Prepare yourself now for a 19-hour nonstop flight. The Qantas airline is ready to fly the longest trip ever. In order to assess the suitability and dependability of the routes and aircraft for Project Sunrise from Australia, Qantas examined many of the test flights.

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In order to maximize open legroom and passenger comfort, Qantas reduced the number of seats on the aircraft for the ambitious project in 2022. The cabin of the Airbus A350 plane that will be used for Project Sunrise was revealed by Qantas today.

Qantas has unveiled prototypes of the First Business cabins on the aircraft that will fly passengers non-stop from Australia to New York and London from late 2025.

A virtual reality fly-through of the aircraft cabin has also been revealed. Designed with ultra-long-haul travel in mind, the flagship cabins are the first to be developed from the ground up by a mix of aviation specialists, as well as Australian industrial design studio Caon Design, and a multidisciplinary team of scientists from the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre including sleep scientists.

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Key to the cabin design has been giving passengers more space, made possible by Qantas’ decision to configure its 12 Airbus A350s to seat 238 passengers compared to the 300-plus seat layout specified by other carriers.

Every Business suite will have direct aisle access for ease of moving around the cabin, and Qantas is incorporating sliding doors into the suite for privacy, if desired. Other Business features include a two-meter flat bed, generous storage (including a large mirror), cushioned leather ottoman, 18” ultra-high definition touch screen TV, large dining table and feature lighting.

First and Business will also offer multiple personal device charging options including wireless induction charging. The Qantas A350 will offer fast and free high-speed Wi-Fi with partner Viasat following completion of key satellite launches covering the Qantas international network.

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Virgin Australia unveils business class suites for A330 fleet.. !!(Opens in a new browser tab)

The aircraft will also feature Bluetooth connectivity allowing all customers to connect their own Bluetooth-enabled headset to the in-flight entertainment system. The Qantas A350 will have six First suites in a 1-1-1 configuration and 52 Business Suites in a 1-2-1 configuration.

It will also feature a Wellbeing Zone for all passengers, which will be unveiled alongside the Premium Economy and Economy cabins in the coming months.

Airlines

PIA Reinstates Manchester and Paris Routes After EU Ban Lift

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced plans to resume flights to Europe starting in January, beginning with Paris as its first destination.

The decision follows the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) removal of a long-standing ban on the airline. PIA’s inaugural flight to Paris is scheduled for January 10, with bookings opening on December 9.

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In an official statement, PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan confirmed that the first flight schedule has been approved, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s recovery efforts. The EU ban had previously cost PIA approximately Rs40 billion ($144 million) annually in lost revenue, compounding its financial struggles.

With European operations restarting, PIA is now setting its sights on the United Kingdom. The airline plans to seek approval from the UK Department for Transport (DfT) to resume flights to major British cities such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham.

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These routes are anticipated to see high demand once necessary clearances are obtained. The lifting of the EU ban represents a key achievement for PIA as it works to rebuild its international network and regain its standing in the global aviation market.

By restoring flights to Europe and aiming for UK destinations, PIA is taking critical steps toward recovering lost ground and improving its financial outlook.