Qantas (QF, Sydney Kingsford Smith) is inching towards launching the first ever direct and non-stop services from Sydney Kingsford Smith and Melbourne Tullamarine to Europe as it plans to issue a Request For Proposals (RFP) to Airbus and Boeing for ultra-long-haul jets capable of operating such routes in 2019, CEO Alan Joyce told reporters in Sydney during the IATA AGM.
"We’re hopeful of having the technical evaluation finished this year, and will do an RFP process with both manufacturers at some time in 2019 to place an order for the aircraft for delivery in 2022," Joyce has said.
According to Flightglobal, the carrier would also need to work together with the pilot unions and the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority in order to adopt new procedures for preventing fatigue on flights expected to last around 21 hours.
The first destination covered by the Project Sunrise, the codename for non-stop ultra-long-haul flights adopted by Qantas, would most likely be London Heathrow, followed by New York, destinations in Brazil, and more cities in Europe. Flights are expected to launch in 2022.
Airbus is expected to offer the modified A350-900(ULR), while Boeing will most likely look to optimise the B777-8 to better suit the needs of Qantas. However, the European manufacturer has said that so far the airline has not been able to present clear requirements for the new jet.
The carrier is looking at an aircraft capable of carrying around 300 passengers in a four-class configuration. In this, Qantas departs from the strategy adopted by Singapore Airlines for its planned ultra-long-haul service from Singapore Changi to New York Newark since the A350-900(ULR)s used by the Singaporean carrier will be configured in a two-class layout with business and premium economy classes only.
According to the ch-aviation fleets module, Qantas' B787-9s, which are deployed on the airline's longest route out of Perth International to London, are configured in a three-class layout.
