It’s not just First and Business class who can take advantage of Project Sunrise’s wellness features.

Forget vigorous exercise, nothing can take it out of you quite like long-haul plane travel. And while Qantas has been teasing their fix for this – Project Sunrise – for some time now, it’s their approach to in-flight wellbeing that has us most excited for the arrival of the airline’s new A350-1000ULR (Ultra Long Range) aircraft. It’s called the Qantas Wellbeing Zone, and every single passenger on board is set 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 your wellbeing in check while on board.

Designed to keep jet lag at bay, guests will find a guided on-screen exercise program to get the blood flowing properly again, a hydration station to combat dehydration, and a range of 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," said the former Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce 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," he added.

What is Project Sunrise?

Project Sunrise flights will be able to travel further distances without the need for stopovers, while also making efforts 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," said Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer Vanessa Hudson.

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," said Hudson.

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. Developed in consultation with a range of aviation specialists and designers, as well as sleep scientists who were tasked with developing features like unique, customised lighting design and timed meal services to combat jetlag onboard.

When can flyers take advantage?

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

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