Project Sunrise officially took to the skies on Friday evening when Qantas Flight 7879, with 50 passengers and crew on board, departed New York’s John F Kennedy Airport. The purpose of the record-breaking 19.5 hour non-stop flight is to conduct scientific research on passengers and crew on an ultra-long haul flight, with the aim of increasing health and wellness, minimising jetlag and identifying optimum crew rest and work periods ahead of the airline’s proposed launch of a commercial service between the two cities.
The direct flights would save passengers up to four hours in total travel time and follow the successful Perth-London route, which started in March 2018 and is the only direct link between Australia and Europe.
While not designed for the 16,200 kilometre (10,200 mile) journey from New York to Sydney, the 787-9 being used for the research flight took off with maximum fuel and a restricted passenger and baggage load (and no cargo) to allow the aircraft to operate the flight non-stop. All carbon emissions from the flight, and two additional research flights from New York and London to Sydney in November and December, will be offset.
Airbus and Boeing have pitched aircraft (the A350 and 777X respectively) with the range to operate Project Sunrise flights on a commercial basis. These pitches, together with findings from the research flights and other streams of work, will form part of a business case being developed by Qantas to inform a final yes/no decision on Project Sunrise expected by the end of this year.
If approved, flights would start in 2022/23.
