Qantas’ grand plans for a host of upscale amenities on its proposed ultra-long haul Sydney to London flights look to be grounded.
The airline had mooted conveniences like bunks, a fitness area and a crèche for the marathon flight route but the unique practicalities of operating a nonstop 20-hour flight have forced Qantas to scale back its ambitions.
In fact, there is still no guarantee it will take off at all, said CEO Alan Joyce.
Joyce said he will order the jets by the end of this year if cost projections make it feasible.
Both Boeing and Airbus jets can fly the distance but neither gives Qantas the carrying capacity it was hoping for.
That means it will have to compromise on inflight amenities.
It will have extra space for all passengers with sections for first class, business, premium economy and main economy cabin.
"There are a significant number of hurdles to overcome but we think we can make this work. There’s still not full payload on each aircraft, but there’s enough we think to make it commercially viable if the other parts of the business case get there," Joyce said.
The airline is awaiting final aircraft proposals from Boeing and Airbus later this year and will then make a decision whether to go ahead.
Only then will it be able to make the business case for the service and it could still be scrapped altogether if the numbers don’t add up.
Although Joyce called it the ‘holy grail’ of long haul aviation, he will take a hardnosed business decision and ‘will kill the project’ if it isn’t commercially feasible.
