Qantas Reveals Its A350 Business Class and First Class Cabins for Project Sunrise
Qantas just gave the world its first real look at the Qantas A350 Business Class, and for US travelers, this is very good news. The Australian airline this week revealed the full cabin details for its Airbus A350-1000ULR, the aircraft built specifically for Project Sunrise. That is Qantas’s plan to fly nonstop between Sydney and New York (JFK). No stopover, no connection, just one very long and very comfortable flight. Sydney–London launches in October 2027. Sydney–New York JFK follows later that same year.
These will be the longest commercial flights in history. Sydney to New York runs up to 22 hours nonstop. Right now, getting there means stopping in Auckland. That stop disappears entirely. So if you fly Business or First Class on this route, what you get on board matters enormously. Qantas designed this aircraft around exactly that challenge.
Here is a full breakdown of what to expect.
The Qantas Plane: Built for Ultra-Long-Haul
The A350-1000ULR is a custom aircraft. Airbus built it specifically for Qantas. No other airline flies this version.
It carries only 238 passengers. That is the lowest seat density of any A350 in operation anywhere in the world. More space per person is the direct result. The first two aircraft are currently in testing in Toulouse, France. Delivery is expected in April 2027.
The plane burns roughly 25% less fuel per seat than older long-haul jets. So it is also a more efficient way to fly this distance.
Qantas A350 First Class: A Suite in the Sky
There are only six First Class suites on the entire aircraft. They sit in a 1-1-1 layout at the very front of the cabin. That means maximum privacy for every passenger.
Each suite includes:
- An 80-inch fully flat bed engineered with multi-layer memory foam
- A separate reclining armchair, offering you two seating positions
- A flexible dining and work table for one or two guests
- A full-length wardrobe
- Generous storage throughout the suite
- Lighting synced to your circadian rhythm to help reduce jet lag
Qantas calls this experience closer to a boutique hotel room than a seat. That description is easy to believe when you look at the specs. The sliding door on each suite gives you complete privacy whenever you want it. You control your environment from start to finish.
The lighting system offers 12 distinct scenes. “Sunrise,” “Sunset,” and “Awake” are among them. Each scene uses science-backed adjustments to help your body clock adjust to your destination time zone. On a 22-hour flight, that makes a difference.
Qantas A350 Business Class: Privacy and Flat Beds for 52 Passengers
The Business Class cabin holds 52 suites in a 1-2-1 configuration. Every single seat has direct aisle access. No need to climb over a seatmate at 3 a.m. over the Pacific.
Each Business Suite comes with:
- An 80-inch fully flat bed
- A sliding door for privacy (a first for Qantas Business Class)
- An adjustable divider between the center seats in the paired middle positions
- A full dining table and work surface
- Wireless charging
- Bluetooth audio connectivity
- Increased storage compared to previous Qantas aircraft
The sliding door is a significant upgrade. Business travelers on competing airlines often deal with open-style suites that feel semi-private at best. Qantas is closing that gap. You’ll get genuine seclusion when you need to sleep, and the option to connect when you want company.
The flat bed at 80 inches works out to just over 6.5 feet. That is long enough for virtually all passengers to sleep fully extended.
The Wellbeing Zone: An Industry First
Qantas is placing a dedicated Wellbeing Zone on board. It’s the first of its kind on any commercial aircraft.
The Wellbeing Zone sits between the Premium Economy and Economy cabins. The space features sculpted wall panels and mounted stretch handles for exercise. Screens display a guided movement program. There is also a hydration station to keep passengers drinking water throughout the flight.
This is not a small add-on. It is a dedicated cabin space built for passenger health on ultra-long-haul routes. No other airline has committed an entire zone solely to wellbeing. For Business and First Class passengers looking to arrive refreshed, this is a distinctive benefit.
The Journey Planner: Smart Technology for Long Flights
Every seatback screen on the A350-1000ULR loads a Journey Planner tool. It shows passengers exactly when meals are served and when the cabin dims for rest.
On a 22-hour flight, it’s a nice feature. Knowing the schedule in advance helps you plan sleep, hydrate at the right times, and use the Wellbeing Zone when it is least crowded. It is a simple feature, but a thoughtful one.
Premium Economy and Economy: More Space Than Usual
Even if you fly in the cabin behind Business, Qantas has done the math in your favor.
Premium Economy offers 40 seats in a 2-4-2 configuration. Economy holds 140 seats in a 3-3-3 layout with a 33-inch pitch, which is unusually generous for this class. An additional 42 Economy Plus seats sit at the front of the economy cabin at a 34-inch pitch.
More than 70% of all seats on the aircraft offer a pitch of 33 inches or more. That makes it the most generous pitch ratio of any Qantas aircraft to date.
What This Means for US Travelers: Sydney–New York Goes Nonstop
This is what American travelers have been waiting for.
Right now, flying between New York and Sydney means a stopover. Most passengers connect through Auckland or Los Angeles. The total journey takes anywhere from 21 to 24 hours of travel time, depending on the routing and layover. It is not a short trip, no matter how you cut it.
Project Sunrise changes that. Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson confirmed that Sydney–New York JFK is the second Project Sunrise route, launching later in 2027, a few months after Sydney–London. The nonstop Sydney–JFK flight is expected to clock in at roughly 22 hours, covering approximately 10,000 miles in a single leg. That is a long time in the air. But it is also a shorter total journey than the current one-stop routing, and a far better experience when you are flying in Business or First Class.
The route would beat the current longest nonstop to JFK — Xiamen Air’s 19-hour-and-20-minute flight from JFK to Fuzhou, China, by nearly three hours. In other words, Sydney–JFK will not just be the longest Qantas flight. It will be the longest commercial flight in the world from any airline, to or from the United States.
Why Nonstop Is a Game-Changer on This Route
The current Qantas JFK–Sydney service stops in Auckland. The existing itinerary runs 20 hours and 40 minutes total, not counting the Auckland layover. Even in Business Class, changing planes mid-journey means disrupting your sleep cycle, waiting in a transit lounge, and boarding again. For premium-cabin passengers, that layover erodes much of the comfort advantage.
The A350-1000ULR removes that entirely. You board in New York. You wake up approaching Sydney. The Wellbeing Zone, the Journey Planner, and the circadian lighting all work together on a single, uninterrupted flight. That is meaningfully different from the current experience.
Tickets and Timing for the New York Route
Sydney–London tickets go on sale in February 2027. The New York launch timing will be confirmed in 2027. Qantas has not announced fares for either route yet. Business and First Class seats on new premium routes tend to sell quickly once they go on sale, especially during the launch period when curiosity and demand run high.
If you are planning a trip to Australia in late 2027 or beyond, this is the route to watch. Skylux will be able to book flights as soon as they are available.
Why This Is Exciting for Business and First Class Travelers
Most long-haul Business and First Class products work fine on a 14-hour flight. A 22-hour flight is a different challenge entirely.
Qantas built this aircraft from the ground up with that challenge in mind. The extra-low seat density gives passengers more personal space. The Wellbeing Zone and Journey Planner address fatigue in ways no other airline has. The 80-inch flat beds match the best in the industry. And the lighting system uses sleep science to help your body adjust before you even land.
For travelers flying between Australia and Europe or North America, this is the most significant upgrade in premium cabin comfort in years. The Qantas A350 Business Class sets a new benchmark for the world’s longest flights.
Book Qantas A350 Business Class and First Class
Skylux Travel specializes in Business Class and First Class fares at up to 70% off published prices. We serve US-based travelers heading to Australia, Europe, and beyond, and we will have Qantas Project Sunrise fares as soon as bookings open.
If you want to fly nonstop from New York to Sydney in Business or First Class, talk to us first. In fact, you can call our travel experts to book any business class flights. Call us at 888-999-5524 and ask about our best available rates.
If You’re Interested…
- Qatar Airways Qsuite Business Class: Full 2026 Review
- 7 Most Private Business Class Seats in 2026
- How to Stay Comfortable & Refreshed on Long-Haul Business Class Flights
- Lufthansa Allegris Business Class: Everything You Need to Know in 2026
- Business Class vs First Class: 5 Key Differences
Frequently Asked Questions About Qantas A350
When do Qantas Project Sunrise tickets go on sale?
Sydney–London tickets go on sale in February 2027. The Sydney–New York sale date will be announced in 2027.
How many Business Class seats are on the Qantas A350?
52 Business Class suites in a 1-2-1 configuration, all with direct aisle access and a sliding door for privacy.
Does the Qantas A350 have First Class?
Yes — six enclosed First Class suites in a 1-1-1 layout, each with an 80-inch flat bed, a separate armchair, and a full wardrobe.
How long is the Qantas nonstop flight from New York to Sydney?
Approximately 22 hours nonstop — eliminating the current Auckland stopover entirely.
What is the Qantas Wellbeing Zone?
A dedicated mid-cabin space with stretch handles, a guided movement program, and a hydration station — the first of its kind on any commercial aircraft.
