Qantas Requests Final Aircraft Bids for London-Sydney Nonstop Route

The dream of flying nonstop from London to Sydney is one step closer to reality, with Australian airline Qantas set to select the aircraft that will make the journey possible.

Alan Joyce, CEO of Qantas, has confirmed that he set an August deadline for Airbus and Boeing to submit their “best and final offer” for the project.

A modified version of Boeing’s upcoming 777-8 and two variants of Airbus’s A350 are competing for the chance to become part of Qantas’s “Project Sunrise,” which aims to launch the nonstop service by 2023.

“By August, we hope to have the final proposal, aircraft pricing, and guarantees on performance and engine maintenance,” Joyce told Dinogo’s Richard Quest at the International Air Transport Association’s annual conference in Seoul this week.

In 2017, both Airbus and Boeing were tasked with developing an aircraft suitable for the ultra-long-haul route, pushing the boundaries of fuel efficiency to new heights.

‘Project Sunrise’

The selected aircraft must meet the ‘Project Sunrise’ requirements, including carrying over 300 passengers in a four-cabin configuration, for the Sydney to London route.

The 17,000-kilometer, 21-hour flight would surpass Singapore Airlines' record for the longest nonstop service, which it set in October 2018 with its relaunched Singapore-New York route.

The upcoming Boeing 777-8, designed to seat 365 passengers, is one of the top contenders for the project. Qantas previously used a Boeing 787 Dreamliner for its inaugural direct Perth to London flight, which launched in 2018 with a 17-hour journey.

However, Airbus claims it currently has two operational aircraft capable of making the London-Sydney trip.

Christian Scherer, Airbus’s Chief Commercial Officer, said at the IATA conference that the company had addressed Qantas’ needs for both “ultra-long-range” and “high-capacity” flights with the A350.

“Airbus holds a unique advantage by offering the only new, contemporary technology aircraft available,” he added, according to FlightGlobal.

Airbus is reportedly offering a special Ultra Long Range (ULR) version of its A350-900 or A350-1000 to Qantas for consideration.

Fatigue Concerns

A representative from the aircraft manufacturer confirmed to Dinogo Travel that both A350 variants are capable of completing the record-breaking flight, noting that the A350-900 ULR currently operates the 9,500-mile Singapore-New York route.

Joyce has expressed confidence that both Airbus and Boeing’s aircraft can handle the journey – along with other ultra-long-haul routes connecting Melbourne, New York, Cape Town, and Rio de Janeiro – though not with a full passenger load.

Qantas is aiming for the new planes to be delivered by late 2022, with the inaugural flights expected to take off in 2023.

Once a suitable aircraft is selected, the Australian flag carrier will need to convince Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority to permit longer flight durations for pilots.

Currently, Australian pilots are limited to a maximum of 20 hours due to fatigue concerns, although this is reportedly under review.

Joyce, whose airline will celebrate its 100th anniversary in November 2020, emphasized that the London-Sydney route would not just be a publicity stunt but must be financially viable.

“If the business case doesn’t stack up… we won’t proceed,” he stated, adding that while he’s optimistic, the airline will remain “pragmatic” in its decision-making.