Qantas doored – Qantas is preparing 22-hour non-stop flights from Sydney to London beginning in October 2027, with just six travellers per flight able to book a first-class suite built around a fixed two-metre bed and privacy doors. The airline says the flagship offering is d
On the longest days between Australia and Europe, the difference won’t be the clock. It will be whether you can close the door.
Qantas is gearing up for 22-hour non-stop flights from Sydney to London, set to take off from October 2027. While most passengers will count down the hours in economy class. each flight will carry only six travellers in first class—inside Qantas’ new flagship suites designed to make the journey feel less like travel and more like a private room that happens to move.
At Airbus’ factory in Toulouse this week. Qantas staff showed a mock-up of the A350 first-class cabin more than a year ahead of the first passengers. The key idea is separation: Qantas is splitting the armchair and the bed. creating what it describes as “a mini boutique hotel” in the sky. For take-off, landing, dining and working, there is a reclining chair. For sleeping and lounging, there is a fixed two-metre bed beside it.
Just as important is the privacy customers now expect from flagship cabins. Qantas is introducing privacy doors at each suite. On its Airbus A350-1000ULR—the aircraft built for these marathon runs—those doors will be standard in both first class and business class.
Qantas is not the first to bring doors into premium flying, but the timing is still notable. Qantas said this is the first time it will offer a doored suite, a decade after Qatar Airways’ Qsuite debut, which helped make privacy doors an expectation rather than an optional extra.
Inside the suite, the details are aimed at the realities of long-haul time. There is a personal wardrobe to keep an outfit fresh after changing into Qantas’ signature pyjamas. Wireless charging is paired with fast and free Wi-Fi. Bluetooth connectivity lets travellers pair their own headphones with the entertainment screen. and noise-cancelling headphones are provided for those who don’t.
Entertainment is built around the length of the route. Each Sydney–London non-stop flight gives time for at least 10 movies, served on a crisp 32-inch (81-centimetre) UHD display. For those who prefer to track progress without pulling up the main screen, there is a separate shoulder-side touchscreen. It allows access to details such as time zones and weather on arrival. and it can be switched off to avoid the continual reminder of “Are we there yet?”.
On Project Sunrise flights, the suite’s layout also changes what “together” can mean. Qantas says passengers in this highest cabin can share a meal with a companion. taking cues from its Airbus A380 first class suites. The chair-and-bed setup can be configured so that what functions as a footrest during take-off and landing becomes a second seat for a plus one. There is also a second seatbelt for the guest, so shared meals and meetings aren’t cut short by turbulence.
Designer David Caon said the idea of dining at a table for three is possible too. with the fixed bed serving as a third chair. He acknowledged the space can get tight—“you’re going to end up playing footsie given the confines of the suite”—but described the result as a more intimate side sit. including the possibility of a couple travelling with a young child.
Qantas also stressed this is not a backdoor for casual upgrades. The feature is not meant to allow people to game seating by booking one traveller up the very front and another right down the back. then persuading staff to treat them as a companion. Instead, Qantas says it is designed for travellers who are already sharing first class together.
That means two separate first class tickets are required if you want the suite-style shared meal. Qantas says this is different from The Residence on Etihad Airways, where a single suite can be reserved for two.
There are limits built into the layout. driven by the fact that each suite has only a single bed for the passenger who booked that seat. Qantas says the two-metre bed will comfortably accommodate most travellers. and it also said the length is 12 centimetres shorter than the bed in Qantas’ Airbus A380 first class cabin. Caon said two metres is “as much as we could get into that platform. ” and added that travellers get “more width and more space within [the suite].” For those who need extra length. he suggested sleeping on a slight diagonal. using the nearby fixed footrest “for a wink of extra room.”.
The suite is finished with mood lighting and service flow designed to match the move from chair to bed, too. The plush bed includes a padded mattress topper and duvet, and the armchair offers a generous recline. For some. Qantas says. the biggest challenge will be mustering the courage to stand and move from the comfortable recliner to the bed before dozing off—an easy choice. perhaps. on a 22-hour flight.
Qantas says daily Sydney–London flights are scheduled to begin in October 2027, with tickets on sale in February 2027. Sydney–New York is also planned, with its launch date to be announced in 2027. Non-stop flights from Melbourne to London and New York are also on the cards.
The airline is the launch customer for the Airbus A350-1000ULR: a customised version of the A350-1000 with an added fuel tank to extend its range. Qantas says the aircraft will use a four-class layout. featuring an exclusive two-row first-class cabin in a 1-1-1 layout. along with business class. premium economy and economy class.
On pricing. Qantas suggests fares on its Project Sunrise non-stop flights are likely to be about 20 per cent higher than comparable one-stop flights. Exact pricing will be confirmed when tickets go on sale in February 2027. and Qantas says these flights will be bookable using Qantas points. subject to availability.
The writer travelled to Toulouse as a guest of Qantas (qantas.com) and Airbus (airbus.com).
Qantas Project Sunrise Sydney London flights Airbus A350-1000ULR first class suite privacy doors travel news aviation