Qantas CEO says Airbus A350 to be new flagship of the fleet
Over 30 of the long-range Airbus A350 jets will eventually carry that iconic Flying Kangaroo tail to all corners of the world.
By David Flynn, July 18 2024
Qantas has big plans for the big twin-engine Airbus A350, with CEO Vanessa Hudson affirming its role as “the flagship” of the red-tailed fleet.
A special ultra-long range version of the A350-1000 is being custom-built for Qantas, with an additional fuel tank to ensure a globe-striding range capable of connecting Sydney and Melbourne non-stop with the likes of London and New York.
Qantas expects deliveries of the twelve A350-1000ULR models to begin in mid-2026, with Sydney-London and Sydney-New York both under consideration as the prestigious launch routes.
Those long-legged A350s will be followed by a second tranche of A350-1000s which will replace the ageing Airbus A330s on international routes from FY2028 (along with a dozen Boeing 787 Dreamliners).
Speaking with Executive Traveller on the sidelines of Qantas’ launch of direct flights to Paris, Hudson confirmed these jets – which the airline is calling the A350-1000LR, for ‘long range’ – will be a “higher-density” three-class version of the Project Sunrise jets.
They will lack the fully private first class cabins and also ditch the Wellbeing Zone where economy and premium economy passengers can stretch their legs on those marathon 20+ hour flights.
The second dozen A350s will lack first class suites.
“They won’t have the additional fuel tank but they’ll still have amazing distance, and at the moment the plan is to be three class.”
Those three classes will see the same doored business class suites as their Project Sunrise siblings, along with more comfortable premium economy and economy recliners.
Qantas' next-gen business class will be standard across all A350s.
However, Hudson says no decision has been made on if these A350-1000LR jets will have the same generous legroom as the Project Sunrise fleet.
This sees premium economy with a 40” pitch (two inches more than. premium economy on a 787) and economy seats with a 33” pitch (one inch more than on a 787).
“We’re still working through that,” Hudson shares. “We will look at that when we get closer. But premium economy is such a popular cabin, and we could look at putting (more seats) in premium economy.”
As to where those A350-1000LRs will fly, Hudson says “they'll be US-bound for sure.”
And there’s the likelihood of a third tranche of A350 orders to come, with Hudson confirming there Airbus A350 “will ultimately (be) replacing the A380s” when the superjumbos are retired from 2032.
“The A350 will be the flagship aircraft that’ll have the new first class, business class, premium economy and economy.”
Qantas has previously said it would “ultimately replace its 10 A380s with A350s from around FY32 onwards.”
The airline says it has negotiated “options and purchase rights... which we can draw down on as needed for replacement and growth over the next decade and beyond.”
09 May 2020
Total posts 567
I suppose the bean counters will know how much it will cost to deal with problems from a 20+ hour’s flight without a well-being zone
06 Feb 2021
Total posts 62
The article indicates the aircraft without the "well being zone, " will be A350LR's, not A350ULR's. The A350LR cannot be used on a 20+ hour flight.
04 Sep 2019
Total posts 62
That's not hard all other Qantas planes are antiques
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1202
When VH says no decision has been made if the A350LRs will have the same legroom as PS versions, you can be pretty sure that it has and they won't.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Aug 2014
Total posts 165
So they're calling them an A350-1000 LR but in fact they are just the standard A350-1000? Why?
QF
03 Jul 2015
Total posts 22
Extra fuel tank midships.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2553
To differentiate between the standard -1000 which is admittedly already a 'long range' jet and the -1000ULR, and minimise confusion between generic 'A350-1000 references' given Qantas will be the only airline in then world with the A350-1000 and -1000ULR. Airbus itself was rather surprised to see the '1000LR' reference when I showed them the Qantas slides, as they appears to be a QF-only branding play.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
17 Nov 2014
Total posts 102
I sincerely hope all A350s will feature Premium Economy and more Business Class seats, and reduce the number of Economy Seats. I don't understand why there's people flying Economy in/out of Australia.
10 Apr 2020
Total posts 16
I would say cost being the number one reason, also if it werent for corporate travel, most of those would be paying with their own money only an economy ticket
05 Dec 2018
Total posts 147
The same people that will complain about how cramped the conditions are in economy, also keep paying for economy. They keep signaling to the company the conditions are adequate.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Sep 2012
Total posts 382
I get it and it’s a new aircraft with all the bells & whistles but it just doesn’t “look” like a flagship in the same way as the 747 or A380. No one looks at the A350 when it parks at the gate and says “wow….that’s incredible”.
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