Forget vigorous exercise, nothing can take it out of you quite like long-haul plane travel.

And while Qantas has teased its fix for this – Project Sunrise – for some time, it’s the airline’s approach to in-flight wellbeing that has us most excited for the arrival of its new A350-1000ULR (Ultra Long Range) aircraft.

It’s called the Qantas Wellbeing Zone, and every single passenger on board will be able to benefit.

What is the Qantas Wellbeing Zone?

Qantas will be the first airline in the world to offer a purpose-built “wellbeing zone”.

This area of the plane, sitting between the premium economy and economy cabins, will look unique – think sculpted wall panels and integrated stretch handles – and will provide ample opportunities to keep passenger wellbeing in check while on board.

Designed to keep jet lag at bay, it will offer travellers a guided on-screen exercise program to get the blood flowing properly again, a hydration station to combat dehydration, and other refreshments.

“We have spent just as much time on the second half of the aircraft as we did the front; in fact, we started studies on the Wellbeing Zone before any other area of the A350,” then Qantas Group boss Alan Joyce said at the start of its development.

“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.”

Project Sunrise also includes a new layout for first and business class cabins. Photo: Qantas

What is Project Sunrise?

Project Sunrise flights will be able to travel further distances without the need for stopovers, while also doing more to keep passengers on board happy and healthy.

“These flights will cut up to four hours off the journey and transform how people experience ultra long-haul travel, through science-backed design to minimise jetlag and maximise wellbeing,” Joyce’s replacement as Qantas CEO, Vanessa Hudson, said.

The result will be an intuitive A350-1000ULR, capable of flying 238 passengers for up to 22 hours nonstop from Australia to almost any destination in the world (starting with Sydney to London and Sydney to New York) for the first time. This is made possible by an additional 20,000-litre rear centre fuel tank and enhanced systems.

“Project Sunrise will not only overcome the tyranny of distance, it will fundamentally change the way our customers travel the world,” Hudson said.

The cabins have been designed to give passengers more space, reducing the number of seats onboard the A350-1000ULR to 238 compared to a 300-plus seat configuration used by other A350-1000 operators. They have been developed in consultation with aviation specialists and designers, as well as sleep scientists – who who developed features such as unique, customised lighting and timed meal services to combat jetlag onboard.

All passengers will be able to use the new wellbeing zone. Photo: Qantas

When can flyers try it out?

The first of Qantas’s 12 new A350-1000ULRs is scheduled for delivery in late 2026, with the most recent news revealing images of its aircraft on the Airbus assembly line in Toulouse in November last year.

Flights on the new aircraft begin in the first half of 2027 between Sydney, London, and New York.

Republished from International Traveller