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Economy perks added on long Qantas flights

See inside the new Qantas A350s

Source: Qantas

Qantas is offering its economy passengers extra leg room and a wellness zone, among other perks, in a bid to woo them on to marathon flights to the far side of the world.

The features are key to the airline’s pitch to passengers mulling the direct 22-hour flight from Sydney to London or New York.

Qantas said on Friday taking the direct option would cut down travel time by about three hours, compared with stopover routes.

Purpose-built A350 planes will take off in late 2025 and carry up to 238 passengers, down from more than 300 in some other planes.

To help make the long haul more comfortable, the new planes will have “wellness zones” located between economy and premium economy. Passengers will be able to use them for guided on-screen exercise programs and to self-service refreshments.

The Wellbeing Zone is a world first, added as part of Qantas’ Project Sunrise.

“The new Project Sunrise flights give us the opportunity to re-think long-haul travel in its entirety, from aircraft cabin design to what ingredients we include on the inflight menu,” Qantas boss Alan Joyce said.

“Reducing the number of seats onboard our A350 to 238 compared to the 300-plus seat layout of other carriers means we not only maximise aircraft performance across long distances, we give our passengers more space and comfort.

“Fewer seats translate to more space for each customer and a dedicated Wellbeing Zone for travellers to stretch, help themselves to a snack and spend time out of their seat. We are the only airline in the world that will have a bespoke designed onboard stretch and movement space.”

Passengers will also have extra leg room, an ergonomic leg rest and more personal storage options.

Menu offerings and cabin lighting schedules have also been adjusted for long flights, based on findings from a study the airline conducted with the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre.

Some 23 volunteers wore monitoring devices during trial flights in 2019 and self-reported less severe jet lag and cognitive performance in the days after their travel.

Qantas’s three Project Sunrise research flights flew from New York and London to Sydney.

This week, the airline launched its first commercial flights via Auckland to New York from Sydney.

The trip from New Zealand to New York’s JFK airport is 14,205 kilometres, and takes more than 16 hours. Qantas is operating Boeing 787 Dreamliners on the route, the fifth longest in the world.

Mr Joyce said A350 passengers would also be able to choose how they spent their time on board, although crew would offer recommendations “based on science” for menu choices and the best times to eat or rest.

“That extends to before and after the flight to improve how people feel when they arrive on the other side of the world,” he said.

Previously announced features for business passengers include access to flat beds, sliding doors for more privacy and a bigger TV.

-with AAP

Topics: Qantas
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