Qantas is officially one step closer to making ultra-long-haul travel a reality. Earlier this month the Qantas aircraft set to conquer the final frontier of long-haul travel had all its key components attached in the Airbus assembly line.

As Qantas gears up to begin testing its direct Sydney to New York and London flight in 2026, before launching in 2027, it has also unveiled the new cabin design of its Airbus A350-1000ULR (Ultra Long Range) that will tackle the 22-hour-long nonstop flight.

While Qantas are the first to acknowledge that a 22-hour flight is no easy feat for passengers, they have been working on an intuitive new cabin design since 2019 to maximise comfort and wellbeing. 

The new A350 will seat 238 passengers across First, Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins. The luxurious First and Business offering has also been revealed (you can read all about it here) and now the all-new Wellbeing Zone, Premium Economy and Economy design has been unveiled. 

So what’s new? Lots. Let’s start with the Wellbeing Zone. A Qantas first, located between Economy and Premium Economy cabins, the specifically designed Wellbeing Zone will allow passengers to participate in guided movements via an onboard monitor and help themselves to a selection of nourishing refreshments, including a hydration station. Within the dedicated zone sculpted walls and integrated handles can be used to help facilitate stretching.

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Premium Economy cabin

Those travelling in Premium Economy will experience a redesigned seat, specifically for Qantas. The new 8” headrest and its wings is the most notable difference and will provide passengers with both additional comfort and a sense of privacy, without isolating themselves from travel companions.

When it comes to space, the seat is the most spacious yet, measuring at 40”. There’s also an ergonomic calf rest that allows full leg cradling in recline that aims to better help passengers sleep. Three dedicated amenity and personal storage pockets have also been added to the seat design to ensure guests have plenty of space to put their personal belongings without crowding seat space. 

In regards to tech, each seatback is fitted with a 13.3” entertainment touchscreen with Bluetooth audio connectivity as well as two fast charging USB-C outlets to ensure your devices stay connected throughout the flight and are fully charged when you touch down in your destination.

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Economy cabin

Economy seats have also undergone a redesign. Qantas’ most spacious Economy seat pitch comes in at 33”. The new seat design is fitted with a six-way adjustable headrest to aid passenger comfort when sleeping as well as a foot net and an extra shelf within arms reach to store glasses and personal items. A newly designed seatback table can be adjusted to hold your tablet in a high position to avoid craning your neck forward for 22 hours or for inflight dining. 

Each Economy seat is equipped with the same tech as Premium Economy with two fast chargers and a wide entertainment touchscreen. All passengers will be able to connect to complimentary high-speed WiFi throughout the flight. 

These spacious new adjustments are only possible due to the reduction of seats onboard. Qantas’ A350 will feature 238 seats compared to the 300-plus seat layout of other carriers. 

While long-haul travel is never the most comfortable of experiences when flying Economy, Qantas’ dedication to improving customer comfort in the ultra-long-haul space is welcomed. 

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