The airline is banking on some of the longest flights in the world to be a hit with passengers, who will have to cough up 20 per cent more for the privilege.
Airbus engineer Tom Lefevre has just paused for a fourth time to deliver yet another safety reminder to a scrum of unruly Australian reporters on tour of the final A350 assembly line.
Qantas is banking on its order of 12 A350s, due to arrive from mid-2026 with a customised third fuel tank, to fly non-stop services to Europe and the US from Australia’s east coast . The 22-hour flights will be the longest in the world, and the airline is expecting passengers to cough up 20 per cent more for the privilege.
It’s Wallace’s job to boost international market share, and he says ultra-long haul is the way to do so. “I talk to the team about smart growth – we need to bulk up and grow, but we need to grow in the right places at the right time with the right aircraft, targeting the right customers,” he said. The airline has designed a “wellness zone” to allow economy and premium economy passengers to stretch, drink water and snack on a banana or two during the long journey. There is no bar.
Qantas is forking out $15 billion on fleet renewal and waiting for 59 new aircraft to be delivered over the next three years after long being criticised for its outdated fleet. Meanwhile, the industry is now grappling with industry-wide aircraft delays, which has thrown the meticulous planning of some airlines completely out the window and leaves Qantas near the front of the order queue.
Its A350S are now not expected to be delivered until mid-2026. The first A321 XLR delivery has been pushed back to early 2025, three months after it was initially expected. The airline said it has not been advised of further delays to any order since February.
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