Qantas reported a multi-billion-dollar surplus in February; with that, the carrier looks to be doubling down on its investment into the long-awaited Project Sunrise. Before the pandemic put a halt on everything aviation, the Australian flag carrier was one of only a handful of airlines that generally earned more than the cost of its ongoing capital expenditure.After losing around AU$7 billion ($4.78 billion) during the depths of the pandemic, with international and state border closures. The Qantas Group, which includes low-cost carrier Jetstar, announced a record-breaking half-yearly underlying profit before tax of AU$1.43 billion ($975.6 million). Within the same announcement of the carrier's record profit, CEO Alan Joyce announced the airline would invest nearly AU$2.7 billion ($1.84 billion) in capital expenditure, with a large chunk destined for more aircraft.

An unrivaled experience onboard

With the Airbus A350-1000 destined to be the backbone of Project Sunrise, the aircraft will enable point-to-point travel between Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) or Melbourne Tullamarine International Airport (MEL) and New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) or London Heathrow (LHR) in one flight. Reimagining the 'kangaroo route' from what was once a multi-stop escapade to a one-flight wonder.

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As released quite publically by the airline, its reimagined experience onboard includes first class, a lie-flat bed, a reclining lounge chair in a 1-1-1 configuration, or business class seats, including full privacy behind sliding doors. The Airbus A350-1000 is destined to carry up to 238 passengers in Qantas' imagined layout, a far cry from Airbus' maximum capacity of the aircraft type 480 in a one-class layout.

With a bulky order with Airbus for almost 300 narrowbodies and 12 widebody aircraft, Qantas is expected to see a new plane arrive every three weeks. With the Airbus A350-1000, the aircraft of choice to jet off direct to New York or London, the 12 widebodies on order will eventually form the backbone of Project Sunrise.

Investment in London

Qantas is investing AU$100 million (US$68.82 million) into various lounge upgrades, with a brand-new first class lounge at London Heathrow headlining the upgrade program. Qantas' new first class lounge at Heathrow (LHR) is set to open in late 2025, where the facility will make history as the first lounge of its kind on European soil. Joining Qantas' other four first class lounges in Los Angeles, Melbourne, Singapore, and Sydney.

Photo: Qantas

The International Lounge, which Qantas currently has located in Heathrow Terminal 3, will be complemented by the new first class facility, where together, they will accommodate the high amounts of premium passengers traveling on Project Sunrise flights. Airline CEO Joyce made this statement regarding London's latest lounge: