summary
- Qantas will be able to offer more direct flights between Sydney, Europe and North America than its competitors.
- Airbus was also a big winner, with its A350-1000 chosen over Boeing’s 787 to complete these ultra-long-haul flights, establishing Airbus as a leader in the ultra-long-range market.
- Middle Eastern airlines that rely on connecting travelers between Europe and Australia will be the biggest losers, as the non-stop flights offered by Qantas will make them less competitive.
Earlier this year, Qantas posted a huge profit of $2.47 billion, allowing the airline to focus its full attention on its most ambitious project yet in commercial aviation. Project Sunrise, the launch of non-stop direct flights between Sydney, New York and London, is certainly one of the last feats yet to be achieved.
Qantas says these flights aren’t that far. The company recently invested in a brand new executive lounge at London Heathrow Airport and he maintains 12 different A350-1000s to serve this very route. Further details, such as the exact seat shape, were also revealed.
So, with this in mind, it’s not really debatable whether these flights will happen or not. It is therefore time to look to the future and further analyze how civil aviation, and in particular flights from Europe to Australia, are likely to change when Project Sunrise flights are launched. Masu.
big winner
The clear winner for Project Sunrise flights will be Australia’s flag carrier, Qantas, for a few key reasons. First, the airline will be able to connect Sydney non-stop to many destinations in Europe and North America, giving it a competitive edge on routes with connections.
Photo: Qantas
The company has already started increasing its presence in some of Europe’s major airports. Earlier this year, Qantas announced it would resume operations at Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) with a 787-9 Dreamliner flight to Perth, Western Australia, after almost 20 years of non-operation.
Another major winner
Another major company benefiting from Project Sunrise is jet maker Airbus. Considering that to complete these ultra-long-distance flights, the manufacturer’s A350-1000, and not the rival Boeing 787, was chosen.
If the project goes as planned and the A350 enters service on these ultra-long-haul routes, Airbus will be in a strong position to capture the ultra-long-haul market for years to come. Naturally, Boeing will be in a weaker position as its European competitors establish themselves as range leaders.
the biggest loser
There is one major category of airlines that will definitely not be happy when Qantas’ Project Sunrise finally gets underway. Airlines that rely on travelers connecting Europe and Australia via hubs in the Middle East and Asia will be less competitive against new direct flights.
According to a recent analysis by Simple Flying at Emirates’ Dubai International Airport (DXB) hub, approximately 37 million passengers transited through the airport in 2022. This number is staggering as almost 64% of all passengers transit to their destination. Beyond the airport.
Photo: David_Harpe | Shutterstock
Without a doubt, flights between Australia and Europe are a key place where Middle Eastern airlines can capture market from Qantas. If both airlines can only offer one-stop connectivity, why not fly with Emirates, which connects you to dozens of destinations across Europe? Qantas, on the other hand, can only really take you as far as London or Paris.
Once Project Sunrise flights are fully rolled out, Middle Eastern airlines will have to change their business models when it comes to Australia. To remain competitive, airlines need to innovate, cut costs and find other ways to persuade travelers to take advantage of one-stop connections through hubs rather than convenient direct flights.
