Page 12 - AAA OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019 Online Magazine

[ AIRLINES ]

Battle of the

Giants

ONE OF THE BIG CONTESTS IN THE AVIATION
INDUSTRY OF LATE HAS BEEN THE ONE TO
OFFER THE LONGEST FLYING ROUTES

Jay Menon

The battle between Airbus and Boeing over their next-generation of
long-haul aircraft has heated up once again, with Qantas set to
finalise the aircraft for its ultra-long-haul initiative, Project Sunrise.

Qantas has challenged Airbus and Boeing, the world’s two leading
airframers, to develop an aircraft capable of flying anywhere in the
world from anywhere else, ushering in a new era of ultra long-haul
travel.

Prized Competition
While Airbus is pitching its A350-1000 as its lead contender for
Qantas’s Project Sunrise, Boeing has offered its 777-8 and 777-9.
However, Boeing’s 777-8 development timeline will depend on
customer demand. These pitches, together with findings from
the research flights and other streams of work, will form part of a haul flights in future – including Project Sunrise.
business case being developed by Qantas to inform a final yes/ Tests ranged from monitoring pilot brain waves,
no decision on Project Sunrise expected by the end of this year. If melatonin levels and alertness, through to exer-
approved, flights would start in 2022/23.
cise classes for passengers.
The 787-9 used for the first research flight took off with maximum Cabin lighting and in-flight meals were also
fuel and a restricted passenger and baggage load (and no cargo) adjusted in ways that are expected to help
to allow the aircraft to operate the flight non-stop. It represented reduce jetlag, according to the medical
the world’s first flight by a commercial airline direct from New York researchers and scientists who have partnered
to Sydney and only the second time a commercial airline has flown with Qantas. Arriving in Sydney, Qantas Group
direct from London to Sydney.
CEO Alan Joyce said: “This is a really significant
first for aviation. Hopefully, it’s a preview of a
Testing Days regular service that will speed up how people
A total of 49 passengers and crew were on the flight, which was travel from one side of the globe to the other.
used to run a series of experiments to assess health and well-being “We know ultra long haul flights pose some
onboard. Data from these experiments will be used help shape extra challenges but that’s been true every
the crew rostering and customer service of Qantas’ ultra long

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