Qantas has ordered Airbus A350-1000 aircraft to operate the longest flights in the Sunrise project!

The Qantas Group in Australia has confirmed that it will order 12 A350-1000 aircraft, 20 A220 aircraft and 20 A321XLR aircraft. The decision was announced at a ceremony in Sydney, attended by Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce and Airbus Commercial Director and Airbus International Director Christian Scherer.

The A350-1000 aircraft was selected by Qantas following an evaluation known as the "Project Sunrise" and will allow the carrier to operate the longest commercial flights in the world. These will include the first ever non-stop connections between Sydney and Melbourne to destinations such as London and New York. With a premium look, the A350 fleet will be used by Qantas for other international routes as well. The A350-1000 aircraft is powered by Rolls-Royce's state-of-the-art Trent XWB engines.

In the category of single-aisle aircraft, the A220 and A321XLR aircraft were selected in an evaluation called "Project Winton". The aircraft will be used by Qantas Group for domestic routes throughout Australia, which may take more than five hours. In addition, the A321XLR offers a range of possibilities for flights from Australia to Southeast Asia, allowing the Qantas Group to open new direct routes. The A220 and A321XLR aircraft fleets will both be powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines.

This agreement is in addition to the existing order for 109 aircraft in the A320neo family, which includes the A321XLR for the Qantas Group's low-cost subsidiary, Jetstar.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said: “New types of aircraft create new possibilities. This is the detail that makes today's announcement so important for the national carrier and for a country like Australia, where air travel is essential. The A350 and Project Sunrise will make any city just a flight from Australia. It is the last frontier and we will overcome the last obstacle created by distance. "

"The A320 and A220 aircraft will become the backbone of our domestic fleet for the next 20 years, helping to keep the country moving. Their variety and economic efficiency will make new direct routes possible. "The council's decision to give the green light to the largest aircraft order in the history of Australian aviation is a clear vote of confidence in the future of Qantas."

Christian Scherer, Airbus Commercial Director and Airbus International Director, said:Qantas is one of the world's flagship airlines, with a visionary spirit since its inception over 100 years ago.".

"We are honored by Qantas' trust in Airbus and look forward to providing the group with one of the most modern, efficient and sustainable fleets in the world. This Qantas decision strengthens the A350's benchmark for large, long-range aircraft."

The A220, A321XLR and A350 aircraft are market leaders in their own size categories. In addition to providing the highest levels of comfort for passengers, aircraft bring a gradual change in efficiency, using up to 25% less fuel, a similar reduction in carbon emissions and a 50% lower sound footprint than aircraft. from the previous generation. All Airbus aircraft in production are certified to fly with a 50% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blend, with the aim of increasing this percentage to 100% by 2030.