Qantas has revealed details of the ultra-long-haul aircraft it plans to operate on non-stop flights from Sydney and Melbourne to London and New York by the end of 2025, as the airline’s financial position shows signs of improvement.
making sure Reports that have been circulating in recent daysQantas has announced a massive order with French aircraft manufacturer Airbus for 12 of its A350-1000s. These flights will be operated on so-called “Project Sunrise” flights, with the first flight to be delivered in 2025.
The airline says the planes will be “able to fly directly from Australia to any other city” in the world, while being 25 percent more fuel efficient than previous planes.
The wide-body planes will be able to carry 238 passengers, and will include “luxury areas” for passengers to move around in the cabin as a way to break up extra-long flights of up to 20 hours.
CEO, Alan Joyce, said Project Sunrise is the “last end and ultimate fix for the tyranny of distance” and that the A350’s cabin “has been specifically designed to provide the ultimate in comfort in all classes of long-haul flying.”
The airline had planned the project for years, as the pandemic delayed its launch. The flights will last up to 20 hours non-stop and will be among the longest in the world.
I also ordered Qantas 40 extra Airbus Aircraft – A321XLRs and A220-300s – for domestic operations, with the first of these aircraft to be delivered next year. It is understood that the value of the transaction is estimated at billions of dollars.
While the airline says the exact cost of the new planes is a commercial confidence, it said “a significant discount from the standard fare should be assumed”.
On orders to modernize its domestic fleet, Joyce said the scale and economics of the new aircraft ordered by Qantas would “make new direct routes possible, including better serving regional cities” and that “these newer aircraft and engines will reduce emissions by at least 15% if they run on fossil fuels.” And much better when running on sustainable aviation fuel.”
The Qantas Group — which includes budget airline Jetstar — released its third-quarter financial update on Monday. While the re-emergence of domestic travel markets and some international travel markets has boosted revenue, the airline still expects to incur “significant” losses for the full year. Net debt decreased from $5.5 billion at the end of December to $4.5 billion at the end of April.
Regarding the cost of ordering the giant jets, Joyce said phased delivery means “it can be financed within our debt and through profits,” and that “the business case for Sunrise has a mid-teenage IRR”.
The Board of Directors’ decision to approve Australia’s largest aircraft order is a clear vote of confidence in the future of the Qantas Group. Joyce said our strategy for these aircraft will reap significant benefits for those who make it possible – our employees, our customers and our shareholders.
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